KARACHI, June 12: Although security has been beefed up in Malir and Shah Faisal Colony following a broad daylight looting spree by a gang of about a dozen armed youths a few days back, no remarkable decline in street crimes has been witnessed as yet.

The gang had virtually taken over a part of Mohammadi Market and robbed several jewellery shops of cash and gold ornaments worth more than Rs2 million. It was the second robbery of its kind within a week in the city.

Residents and owners of shops in the area say they were expecting that the police deployment will help curb the growing incidents of crime in their localities but people still feel insecure because street criminals are active and strike at their whim.

They pointed out that a 20-year-old youth, Kashif, was shot dead in Malir on Monday for offering resistance to criminals who snatched his mobile phone. A day earlier, a young robber was caught by people in Model Colony while he was trying to snatch a youth’s mobile phone near Awami Hotel. People thrashed and injured him but police intervened when enraged people tried to immolate him. He was escorted by police to Saudabad Hospital.

Apart from the incidents of theft and robberies, the twin locality is faced with numerous other street crimes, say the residents, who pointed out that most of the victims do not lodge a complaint with police for obvious reasons.

Residents of Khokhrapar, Model Colony, Al-Falah and parts of Malir say they have noticed a beefed up security with police deployed at various points checking vehicles and frisking suspects but they are yet to heave a sigh of relief from street crime which continues to register an upward trend.

Traders doing business in Malir and Khokhrapar say they have been facing a considerable decline in the usual hustle and bustle in the markets as customers are panicked and feeling insecure.

Local traders had also staged a protest against police failure to curb crimes, and urged the government to ensure safety and security of the people of these areas and protection to their properties. They had also observed a shutter-down strike.—ZAK