Youth shot dead over resisting robbery in Karachi

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies have struggled to curb street crime in Karachi, as evidenced by the tragic incident where another citizen was fatally shot in broad daylight while resisting a robbery in Madina Colony.

CCTV footage of the incident shows the victim using his mobile phone in the street alongside his younger brother when two street criminals approached and attempted to snatch the phone. The individual resisted, prompting the assailants to shoot him in the head before fleeing with the stolen phone.

More than 250 Karachiites were shot dead and 1,052 others were wounded by street criminals between 2022 and March 28, 2024, data presented before a high-level security meeting showed.

Police sources said that a significant increase in violent street crimes was registered over the past three years.

They said before 2022 the number of people killed by muggers stood at around 30, but the figure increased manifold when a total of 111 citizens were killed by muggers in the 12 months of 2022.

Senior police officials attribute the increase in violent street crimes to skyrocketing inflation and growing economic difficulties in last three years.