Policeman shoots woman, tries to kill himself

KARACHI:

A police officer tried to commit suicide after killing a woman near a police station in Malir on Monday.

According to sources, the incident took place near Malir City police station when a 60-year-old sub-inspector shot a beggar.

The sub-inspector was posted at the police station and shot the woman after he left his post and went to report for duty at the Malir District Courts.

DSP Fakharul Islam told The Express Tribune that the woman and police officer had an argument. "They were arguing about something and then he shot her," he said recounting eye-witness statements. "After he shot her, he tried to kill himself but only managed to injure his neck." The woman and sub-inspector were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where the woman succumbed to her injuries during treatment. The police officer is being treated for critical wounds and is still at the hospital.

The incident is similar to two others which have taken place in less than a month. In the first week of August, an on-duty Pakistan Navy officer shot himself and his newly-wed wife over an alleged family dispute.

The following week, a young man killed himself after he shot a girl in New Karachi. According to the neighbours the incident took place the day of the girl's nikkah. The man walked into her house and opened fire at her and then shot himself in the head.

In this case the police suspect that the woman killed by the policeman was a beggar. So far they have been unable to ascertain the motive behind the killing. "They [the policeman and woman] were related to each other," said DSP Islam. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

In an unrelated incident, the tortured body of a young man was found in Mujahid Colony, Orangi Town within the limits of the Mominabad police station. Taimur, 30, had been kidnapped.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2014.