Labourers robbed after drinking laced milk

At least 30 labourers were found unconscious after being robbed in a factory warehouse near Pakistan Stock Exchange.

According to rescue officials responding to a distress call, they shifted 30 semi-conscious labourers lying at railways warehouse to Dr Ruth Pfau KM Civil Hospital. The workers told the rescuers that their colleagues brought them chilled milk soda and they fell ill after drinking it.

The victims said as they thought that their colleagues were treating them to a refreshing drink during grueling work, but it was laced with some intoxicant that cause extreme stomach ache and made them unconscious. "As we lay writhing in pain on the floor, the six men, who had brought the milk soda, snatched whatever small amount of cash we had and even took away the tiny brick phones we use for talking to our kith and kin," a victim said in his statement to the police at the hospital.

The railway police rushed to the location and detained the two suspects, identified as Arif and Allah Dutta, who were reportedly involved in preparing the milk, while the other four accused were identified as Rashid, Peeto, Aamir Bakhsh, and Malangi escaped from the scene along with the looted valuables.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2022.