Three young men and a girl in a black car tried to kidnap a woman, a teenage girl and a toddler from the underground parking of Dolmen Mall in Clifton. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
A woman and a security guard were wounded during a bid to foil a kidnapping at the Dolmen Mall in Clifton on Saturday.
According to witnesses, three young men and a girl inside a black car, with a green ‘applied for registration’ licence plate for 2012, tried to kidnap a woman, who was accompanied by a teenage girl and a toddler in the underground parking. The woman shouted for help as the suspects tried to kidnap her.
This alerted the security guard, Ghulam Din, who ran towards the car. “As soon as they saw Din coming, the driver of the black car tried to drive on the wrong way and hit a pavement as well,” recalled Din’s colleague. “At that time, the driver, the female suspect and the kidnapped family were inside the car.”
Another security guard immediately locked the electronic gates of the parking lot to prevent their escape. “By this time, the car tyre had already burst and the gate was closed so they were nearly captured,” said a witness. Din was also holding the driver at gunpoint.
However, the remaining accomplices came from behind and opened fire at Din. “Din fell down so the suspects managed to open the gates and escaped on foot.”
The security guards who were deployed outside the mall said that the suspects had another car waiting outside the mall that they used to flee. “We couldn’t understand ourselves what happened,” said a guard. “It all happened inside the parking lot so we didn’t see anything. We just saw them sitting in the car.” The injured guard was later taken to Ziauddin Hospital. The family that was being kidnapped also disappeared and the police have yet to contact them.
Meanwhile, panic spread inside the mall as the exits were temporarily closed. Rumours also flew around that a shooter was roaming the halls. “We were really scared. My husband was with me, but no one was telling us exactly what had happened,” said a shopper, Faiza Kashif. “Our families also panicked when they heard the news on TV, but it all calmed down soon after.”
After going through security camera footages, Clifton division SSP Nasir Aftab told the media that the incident was an attempt at kidnapping but the security guard foiled it. “We can only confirm once we contact the family who the suspects were and why were they being kidnapped,” he said.
The police have, however, impounded the suspects’ car and also noted the registration number of the other car that they used to escape. A pistol, ammunitions and a cellphone were recovered from the impounded car. They have yet to register the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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What kind of terrible reporting is this!!! Who were the people being kidnapped??
We demand to publish the name of these creminals. As no news regarding the identification of the suspect are seen.
If culprits are identified by thier car and mobile phone etc, why their name are not broad cast by any news paper or channel.
@Asad Shairani: FYI I was born in Clifton. I exactly know what it has become.
@Fools.........I second you. Lets shoot him together !
OK someone clarify this. Two males and a young woman tried to kidnap a mother and child. Now in the footage that was aired we see a woman (in black) with child come out from from the left back seat. There is clearly another woman (in blue) in the passenger front seat who also comes out, then there is also a young girl (in light brown/off-white) who comes out from the right back seat. In the footage the mother and child are clearly seen to eventually escape with the young girl accompanying them.
Most new reports are conflicting - some exclude the toddler from the report, some portray just one female being a part of this ordeal - non to my knowledge have mentioned that there are three females, one toddler and two males. At some point a guy in a white shirt tackles one of the kidnappers. But since the footage is edited we really cant figure out the order of events.
This is seriously confusing and scary that we cant get a straight report
@ shadi.. Life was better under Musharraf .. fACT!.. Public awam will be willing to shoot you if you are supporting this corrupt democracy.. Future looks bleak unless Musharraf or pti come in power
Mika - what a stupid comment.
My concern is why the general public is not being told the whole story? all the media houses are reporting that some "influential" people were behind this kidnapping attempt. Why is media so terrified of reporting the names? so much for investigative journalism and free media in our country!
and what makes us think our houses are any safer? people are kidnapped and robbed at the gate of their houses everyday! If we have to live in this city we have to live without fear, go about are daily lives and just pray to God for protection. Otherwise we will die of depression if nothing else.
@ aafat can you write down on a paper saying there were no kidnppings ever in musharaf era sign it and promise to shoot ur own self in the head if proven otherwise ?
As a resident of this once great city I can tell y'all one thing, stay at home and don't get out unless it is inevitably necessary.
"D E M O C R A C Y I S T H E B E S T R E V E N G E" y'all. Right?
Sneak peek into westernized, secular, liberal, democratic area of Pakistan called Clifton.
Dolmen must reward Din for his bravery. We cant expect anything good from our corrupt and incompetent police force.
We should all appreciate the dedication and initiative of the guard who thwarted these criminals. I hope he is provided with exemplary compensation.