Two killed resisting robbery bids

LAHORE: Two citizens’ lives were lost during robbery bids in the provincial capital on Tuesday.

In the Barki area, 50-year-old Abdul Majeed was going on a motorcycle with his brother Muhammad Rafiq to a vegetable market at around 3am when two motorcyclists intercepted them near Barkan Kalan bus stop after following them. The accused looted valuables and Rs30,000 from them at gunpoint.

On facing resistance, the suspects resorted to firing, leaving Rafiq dead.

Separately, a 38-year-old shopkeeper identified as Usman succumbed to his injuries after he was attacked by robbers in Ichra. The victim was in his shop on Pir Ghazi Road when two armed motorcyclists barged into it. The victim resisted the robbery on which the robbers resorted to firing, leaving him in a pool of blood. He was taken to a hospital for treatment where he passed away on Tuesday. Police officials said they were searching for the killers.

While crime against property is rising in the provincial metropolis, at least 17 incidents of murder during robbery have been reported in the past few months. At least seven people lost their lives in such incidents during the period of lockdown. The number of those injured was higher.

Similarly, other incidents of robbery are being regularly reported.  A case was reported in Harbanspura where a pharmacy store became a target of three robbers. Video footage of the incident has been making rounds.

Another footage emerged of a botched robbery in Mohalla Sarwar Hayyat, Raiwind Road. Two robbers attempted to loot a general store but the bid was thwarted by the owner.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2020.