Policeman who died trying to foil robbery laid to rest

KARACHI:

A policeman who lost his life trying to foil a robbery attempt in Korangi on Saturday night was laid to rest on Sunday.

The head constable, Nasir Shah, saw two men on a motorcycle mugging a pedestrian in Korangi No. 2.5. "He opened fire at the robbers in an attempt to foil the robbery bid," explained Korangi SHO Khan Muhammad Shaikh. "The robbers retaliated and injured him." Shah was rushed to Jinnah hospital where he died.

Shaikh said that one of the robbers was critically wounded as Shah shot him in the head. Following the exchange of fire, a large crowd gathered at the site and caught the two robbers and started beating them up.

"There were over 1,500 people busy beating them up," Shaikh pointed out, adding that it was difficult for the police to disperse the crowd. Later, more policemen reached the site and managed to disperse the crowd. "Both the robbers had died by this time and the mob had started burning the bodies," said Shaikh.

Funeral rites

Shah's funeral prayers were offered at Police Headquarters, Saudabad, after Zuhr prayers on Sunday. Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali promoted the slain policeman to the next grade posthumously for showing courage and gallantry. He also announced compensation for the family.

Investigations

The bodies of the two robbers were also taken to Jinnah hospital for autopsies. According to officials at the hospital, one of the suspects died from the bullet wound while the other one was tortured to death by the mob. The bodies had minor burn injuries as well.

The suspects were identified as Ameen Yaqoob and Faisal, residents of Mansehra Colony. Their bodies were later handed over to their families.

The police have recovered a motorcycle and a pistol from the suspects' possession. "A pistol belonging to a robber and another one belonging to the policeman are missing," said Shaikh, adding that it may have been someone from the mob who took them. The officer said that the case of the incident has been registered while a separate case will be registered against the mob for taking the law into their hands.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2015.