Mob lynching: ‘We killed the robbers to shame the police!’

Those who couldn’t find a stick or stone, used their feet, hands and shoes to beat the two robbers to death.


Faraz Khan February 10, 2011

KARACHI: Their only regret was that they didn’t have more guns. Those who couldn’t find a stick or stone, used their feet, hands and shoes to beat the two robbers to death.

The free-for-all took place in Orangi’s Mianwalli Colony on Wednesday after residents and shopkeepers, alerted by gunfire gathered around Riaz’s shop. The shopkeeper was injured while resisting a gang of six robbers who had come on three motorcycles. They had already hit a few other shops where no one had resisted.

“It was our luck that we managed to catch them,” said resident Zaraq Khan. “They almost managed to escape but fortunately someone from the crowd had a weapon and opened fire.”

Three men managed to escape. Residents said that they had wanted to kill all of them but didn’t have enough weapons. They warned that they would deal with street criminals like this from now on.

“I was returning home when it was happening and initially I couldn’t tell what was going on,” said Hassan Khan who works in a garment factory in SITE and is the father of two children. “When the men were fleeing, I grew afraid and first I thought I should protect myself [and get as far away as possible]. But then I saw the crowd, I also got the courage.”

Residents said this kind of crime was becoming more and more common. “The police aren’t doing anything, so we decided why the hell not do it ourselves,” said witness Ali. “This was a message for the police, so that they should feel shame that the common people are doing their job.”

Residents said that the gang had been working in the area for a while and that they strongly suspected the police were supporting them or at least turning a blind eye. “How can six men on motorcycles roam around in a neighbourhood and so easily rob people without anyone noticing,” said shopkeeper Shamim, who has been running a general store here for two years. “Each time, they came and escaped easily without facing any trouble by the police.”

Some people tried to attack the policemen who arrived but elders in the area and police high-ups calmed the situation down. Witnesses claimed that the mob killed the robbers in the presence of the law enforcers. “First two policemen on motorcycle patrol reached the site and later a police mobile unit but they were unable to stop the mob from beating the men,” said witness Gul Khan. “All of them should be killed on the spot because it is the only worthy punishment for them.”

The crowd was 200-man strong. “They were hell bent on beating them,” said witness Hazrat Gul, a rickshaw driver. “Some of them had sticks, some were throwing stones and those who did not have anything were beating them with their hands, feet and shoes.”

The bodies and the injured robber and shopkeeper were transported to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. One of the victims was identified as Imran Hussain, a resident of Mehmoodabad, but his accomplice has yet to be named. The injured robber was identified as Haroon. “They were killed by firing,” medico-legal officer Dr Shiraz told The Express Tribune.

Pirabad SHO Rana Nasarullah said that the police were looking for the men who opened fire on the robbers. He denied, however, that the shopkeeper had used a gun to attack the robbers. “It might be two or more than two men who fired at the robbers,” the officer said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2011.

COMMENTS (24)

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply Hypocrits.
Imran Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply In an ideal world the robbers would have been caught by the Police or by citizens and then handed over for due process. The people who fired on the robbers or later beat them are clearly guilty of a crime under the PPC as they do not have the excuse of self defense. If we feel that such actions which are crimes under the present law should be condoned then we should have the laws amended to allow killing of citizens by other citizens provide enough people in a frenzy can shout "robber" at the victim. Raymond Davis killed two men. Whether he acted in self defence and the killing was justified remains to be proven. He is entitled to a legal trial as are the victims - whatever the political ramifications. I certainly do not agree that he should have been lynched. If we are to approve of mob murders and other forms of extra judicial killings we might as well stop calling ourselves human.
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