Murder-cum-robbery cases on rise in metropolis

The incidents of murder or injury during robbery are on rise in the provincial capital. During last few months, hardly a week passed when such incidents did not occur.

There were also several cases which were not reported to the police, The Express Tribune learnt.

In the most recent incident on January 18, a shopkeeper was shot dead while another was left injured in an incident of resistance during robbery on Allama Iqbal Road, Garhi Shahu.

As per reports, two suspected robbers entered a hair salon and a shop and started looting valuables after taking the shopkeepers hostage at gunpoint.

The victims offered resistance during the robbery incident.

In reaction to the resistance, the suspects resorted to firing. The victims sustained bullet injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced the victim identified as Ejaz as brought dead. The injured victim was identified as Ashfaq.

On January 17, a man as well as a suspected robber were reportedly injured in an incident of firing in Nishtar Colony. Two suspected robbers had tried to loot the man in Nishtar Colony. The victim offered resistance. A suspected robber, Hamza, resorted to firing during which a bullet hit Mohabat Ali. A bullet also hit a suspected robber identified as Azhar.

On January 16, a man was killed while another was injured in separate incidents of resistance during robberies in Shahdara. Two motorcyclists barged into a general store near Bajwa Hospital and tried to loot valuables. The victim, Sarwar, the store owner, offered resistance. The suspected bandits resorted to firing. Sarwar suffered bullet injuries and was killed on the spot.

In another incident, a citizen was visiting a shop when he was intercepted by suspected robbers who opened fire at him for offering resistance during the crime. The victim was admitted to a hospital for treatment.

On January 13, a Dolphin Squad constable was injured due to firing by suspected robbers in Township area.

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A Dolphin Squad team was patrolling the area when they signaled to stop suspected robbers riding a motorcycle.

The suspects, instead of complying with the orders, resorted to firing, leaving a constable identified as Nawaz injured.

On January 9, a man was injured over resistance during a robbery in Gulshan-e-Ravi. Two unidentified motorcyclists had barged into a paan shop near Samnabad morr while carrying firearms. They looted valuables after taking the victims hostage. When the suspects were leaving, a worker outside the shop was carrying a stick. The suspects mistook it as a possible attack on them and resorted to firing. The victim identified as Safdar Masih suffered bullet injuries.

On the other hand, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mehmood Dogar claimed that there was a ‘visible decrease’ in the overall crime rate during the first 20 days of this year.

He claimed that there was a 30 per cent decrease in overall crime rate as compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to the figures, a decrease of 64% in the robbery incidents had been recorded in addition to a reduction by 34% in motorcycle and other vehicles’ snatching, 24% in robbery cases and 50% in incidents of robbery-cum-murder, the Lahore CCPO claimed.

“Moreover due to the preventive steps as well as preemptive measures of Lahore Police, there had been a decrease of 5% in the incidents of murder in the city when compared with last year.”

The CCPO further said that Lahore police were committed to dealing with the criminals with iron hands and reducing street crimes in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2021.