Mob justice in Multan: Robber stoned to death under police’s shadow
One shot himself in fear of being beaten to death by an angry crowd, while the other was repeatedly pelted with stones until he died.
According to details, two robbers snatched the motorbike of a man identified as Nasir at gunpoint, before escaping towards the urban centre of the city.
Nasir immediately informed his cousin Younus that the robbers were heading in the same direction as Younus’s store, and told him to catch the criminals along with his companions.
When Younus blocked the road and tried to grab them, one of the robbers retaliated and opened fire, killing Younus and injuring four other people.
At this point, however, the crowd took the law into their own hands. Shopkeepers and passersby started beating the men mercilessly, and one dacoit, in fear of being at the mercy of the violent mob, shot himself.
His fears were not unfounded – the other robber was stoned over and over again. As soon as he regained consciousness, he would be beaten repeatedly until he lost consciousness. This continued until he was ultimately stoned to death.
Police watch on
In the meanwhile, police officials remained silent spectators to the scene. After arriving at the spot where the mob had gathered, fearful officials merely ran into a nearby shop and hid there.
Disturbingly, it appeared that one of the reasons the law enforcers were unwilling to take action was because of the location of the crime. The road on which the victim was beaten and killed lay between two police jurisdictions – the Makhdoom Rasheed Police Station and the Basti Malook Police Station. While the police were busy deciding whose area the crime fell under, people continued to beat the robber till he died.
Finally, around three hours later, DSP Mian Tanveer of the Shujaabaad area (located at a large distance from the crime scene) arrived with Basti Malook SHO Saeed Akhtar. By this time however, the only job left, it appears, was to recover the bodies of the victims. The bodies were shifted to Multan’s Nishtar hospital.
Multan Cantt SP Dr Shehzad Asif told The Express Tribune that one of the robbers had been identified as Noman Dogar, who was wanted in cases of robbery and murder. Police officials added that legal action would be initiated after both robbers’ identity had been established. So far, no FIR has been registered against any of the citizens.
Another late arrival on the scene was the MNA of the same constituency where the murder occurred – Ali Musa Gilani, son of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Ali Musa reassured the mob that the law and order situation would be ‘improved soon’.
His appearance was preceded by his rival in the recent by-polls for the constituency, Abdul Ghaffar Dogar who had held out similar assurance to the crowd.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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@jibran: Don't know about you but I would much rather walk in the streets of Multan or any city in Punjab than in Karachi or Peshawar! Only in Punjab is there some semblance of law and order! It is because the people in Punjab have shown criminals that they can't just drive away after a crime but that there are consequences. I may be no big fan of vigilante justice but it certainly sends a clear signal that that crime won't be tolerated!
ET is trying to create impression that the robbers had the right to kill but shouldnt have been punished.
I would rather ask all muslims to ask for implementation of Islamic Punishments and when killers would get publicly hanged, decoits get hands amputated and acid throwers get the punishments of kind,, the deterance would by it self strike fears in the hearts of criminals.
We have the example of Saudi Arabia where Islamic punishments have created such safe society that no no dares to carryout such acts with so much of impunity. Today we have voilence unmatched hither to fore and the only way to arrest this situation is implement ISLAMIC PUNISHMENTS. We must realize that no law can more perfect than the law ordained by Allah Almighty.
@shahid: It's highly unlikely that there's not some form of thinking they deserve it in the back of peoples minds. It's what it means in the bigger picture. The situation can easily find itself repeating on people who don't actually deserve it if people see they can do it and come out clean.
ET Stop dramatizing the event........... that man was a killer and a robber and deserved no less..................... had he been handed over to the police, he would have been released in no time, only to terrorize the innocent people again........... well done people of Multan..... if nobody can give u justice, snatch it!!!
Oh Gilani, you have turned my peaceful city into this. Shame on you.
so who was in the right and who was wrong??? go figure!! The country is in shambles and no one gives a damn. People are going crazy and no one can do anything. Killing a human being is not an easy thing to do. Not only the dacoits and criminals of our country are devoid of all human feelings...our average citizens have turned in to ........plain 'mobs'. Wake up!! for there is no religion anywhere to be seen, let alone Islam....Islam is a memory of too far and distant times. If Allah was being followed His promises would have held and we would not have been deserted so obviously and clearly.
(Post this if you can for we really need to find our way...to Islam and people need to think)
Who will establish rule of law in Punjab?
Blockquote
Blockquote> The road on which the victim was beaten and killed lay between two police jurisdictions – the Makhdoom Rasheed Police Station and the Basti Malook Police Station. While the police were busy deciding whose area the crime fell under, people continued to beat the robber till he died.Blockquote
Blockquote
So it means there are no pre-defined lines?
This is sickening. The law and order situation in Punjab couldn't be worse. While Khadim e Aala is wasting energies in laptop politics, his law minister is deep into sympathizing banned organizations. There is no time for the law and order. Now mobs rule the entire province. Every day brings a new low.
Can anyone ask Ali Musa MNA that what is he doing to improve the law and order???? He is just making money and by the time he will think about the law and order.His Government term would end and he will again start asking people for votes....ANd Sadly nothing will happen.........
Horrific violence. What do we expect the citizens to do??? When the police is not protecting them but colluding with perpetrators of a crime; not to be undone by corrupt courts that have failed to convict criminals. In this scenario people will take the law into their own hands just as they went after the policemen of Gujranwala, the other day, when they were caught fleecing bike riders of their possessions. Why is it in PM. Gilani's son's constituency that random criminality exists??? Is this not telling about the racketeers elected to the NA???
In this case it is obvious those two were guilty and killed younis as well. Mob did the right thing .No regrets. It is obvious people have no confidence on criminal justice system.