Violent robberies leave 28 dead in 2021

Encounters in Lahore also kill five cops, 16 suspects

LAHORE:

Police struggled to curb violent crimes in the provincial capital as at least 28 citizens, including several women, were murdered during robberies during the past year. One average, a citizen was murdered for offering resistance during robbery every fortnight.

The victims included a lady doctor, Khawla, 25, who was shot dead at doorsteps of a friend’s house in DHA. She was murdered by two brothers. “I panicked when she screamed after I snatched valuables from her,” one of the suspects confessed.

Another victim was a 45-year-old woman in Mangamandi who was intercepted while entering her home after checkup of her child from a nearby clinic. “As she entered her home, unidentified suspected robbers barged in and tried to snatch her gold earrings. When she offered resistance, the intruders resorted to firing,” the police said.

Robbers looted Rs8.3 million daily on average from Lahorites during 2021. The official record revealed that Rs3.029 billion was looted in over 8,000 robberies, 3,000 thefts and burglaries and 98 incidents of dacoity in which five or more robbers were involved. Sources shared that the police had recovered only eight per cent of the looted amount so far.

Lahore police claimed to have arrested as many as 3,856 members of 1,608 gangs of dacoits and recovered cash and valuables worth Rs630 million during the first 11 months of the year. The police stated that they had recovered 73 cars, 3,528 motorcycles, 122 other vehicles, 36 laptops and 3,435 mobile phones from criminals.

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The police seized 65 Kalashnikovs, 525 rifles, 299 guns, 3,9657 pistols, seven carbines, 36 revolvers and more 57,300 bullets and cartridges.

At least five policemen and 16 suspected robbers were killed during encounters, while eight cops and 15 suspects were injured. The first deadly encounter of the year was reported on March 14 in Shafiqabad, leaving a suspected robber dead. On March 24, two suspected robbers were killed while five persons, including a woman, a child the SHO of Sarwar Road and two police constables were injured in an encounter in the North Cantonment area.

On April 7, a suspected robber was injured and two were arrested after an encounter near New Ravi Bridge.

On May 1, a suspected robber was killed in an alleged police encounter in Harbancepura. Police said the suspected robbers were fleeing after a robbery bid in a bakery. On May 3, a suspected robber was injured in an alleged police encounter in Shahdara with a Dolphin Squad team. On May 10, two Dolphin Squad officials were injured in an encounter during a house robbery in Mustafa Town.

On June 2, Constable Muhammad Qaisar was killed in an encounter in Mohlanwal.

On June 10, the suspected robber involved in the murder of Qasim was killed.

On June 13, a police constable was injured in an encounter in Shafiqabad, on July 26, a suspected gangster in Kot Lakhpat and on July 31, a suspected hired assassin in Kahna.

In an encounter on August 31, two constables died in Mangamandi, on August 7, a constable was killed in Hanjarwal and a week later another official near Data Darbar. On September 5, a suspected robber involved in killing the constable during the encounter at Data Darbar was killed by CIA Iqbal Town in Saggian. On September 9, a suspect was killed in Kahna. On October 20, another suspect was killed by police in Chung, while on October 26, police claimed to have killed a suspected robber in Hayer.

On November 3, a suspected robber was shot dead in Raiwind. On November 11, a suspected drug dealer was killed in Factory Area. On November 13, suspect Muhammad bin Qasim died in custody of CIA Civil Lines. On November 26, five suspects were injured in two encounters. On November 28, another man was killed in police custody.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2021.