KARACHI: In a shocking incident, a user of an online bike service was shot dead in broad daylight for allegedly resisting a robbery offer in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Johar on Friday.
A video of the gruesome crime scene, available with Geo Newsshows that the armed assailant intercepted the rider near the Munawar Chowrangi area of the metropolis.
Following a verbal scuffle and what appeared to be the rider’s looting, the dacoits tried to flee the scene but the rider, a 40-year-old resident of Korangi, caught one of the attackers.
Subsequently, the armed men opened fire on the motorcyclist and fled the scene unmolested despite heavy traffic.
Police, however, confirmed that the deceased’s wallet and motorcycle were in their custody, adding that they were collecting evidence from the scene.
Police officials said they were investigating whether the incident was the result of personal enmity and attempted theft.
The metropolis has been facing an increase in street crime in recent months. According to crime statistics released by the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), more than 50,000 criminal incidents were reported in Karachi between January and August this year.
These are just the incidents that have been reported. There could be countless others that have not been reported.
The figure shows that on average, 208 criminal cases are reported daily in the city, with mobile phone, car and motorcycle thefts being the most common. The financial impact of these incidents has been estimated in millions of rupees.
Not only were people deprived of their valuable possessions in these cases, but some 90 people also lost their lives at the hands of the street criminals responsible.
The victims include intelligence and law enforcement officers, as well as women. Nearly 500 other people were also injured due to gunshots fired by the robbers.