Policeman killed after alleged smugglers’ car hits him during Karachi checking

KARACHI: A police constable was killed in Karachi on Saturday after a vehicle allegedly carrying smugglers struck him when officers tried to stop it for checking in Gulshan-i-Maymar, according to police and rescue officials.

Site Superhighway Station House Officer Mohammad Nawaz said a police mobile was conducting routine patrol near Maymar Mor when personnel signalled a car to stop. He said the men in the vehicle did not comply and instead sped up, hitting 36-year-old constable Abdul Manan.

The constable suffered critical injuries and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors declared him dead, the officer said. His funeral prayers were later held at the DIG East Zone Police Headquarters.

SHO Nawaz said other policemen pursued the fleeing suspects in their mobile. During the chase, the suspects’ vehicle also struck the police mobile and damaged it. Despite that, police arrested both men, identified as Agha Jan and Naseem.

According to the SHO, the initial investigation found that the seized car was loaded with chalia, or betel nut, and was being driven with a fake number plate. He said both arrested men were betel nut smugglers and that further investigation was under way.

Two women killed in separate traffic accidents

In separate incidents in the city, two women were killed in traffic accidents involving heavy vehicles, while two drivers were taken into custody, police officials said.

Jamshed Quarters SHO Mohammad Irfan Meo said a woman died and her husband was injured when a bus hit their motorcycle near People’s Chowrangi on Saturday afternoon. He said the couple was travelling on the motorcycle when the bus, operating on a route from Lyari to Malir, struck them.

Both were critically injured and shifted to hospital, where 25-year-old Saima was pronounced dead. Her husband, 40-year-old Imran Ghaffar, was admitted for treatment. Police arrested the bus driver, Lal Bux, and impounded the vehicle, the SHO said.

In another incident, Kalri SHO Majid Alvi said a young woman was killed on main Mauripur Road after being hit by a loaded Mazda truck. He said the unidentified woman, believed to be in her mid-20s, was crossing the road near People’s Football Stadium in Lyari when the truck struck her.

She was taken to Civil Hospital Karachi with critical injuries, where she was pronounced dead, the SHO said. The truck driver, Ajiz Khan, was arrested and the vehicle was taken into police custody.

“The driver attempted to avoid the fallen pedestrian by applying brakes; however, despite these efforts, the mini truck ran over the pedestrian’s head, resulting in her death at the scene”, read a statement issued by Traffic District West Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Azam Jamali.

Karachi has seen an increase in traffic accidents over the past year, particularly those involving heavy vehicles such as dumper trucks and water tankers.

On Thursday, a motorcyclist was run over and killed by a speeding truck in Quaidabad, where a day earlier a man was killed by a fast-moving water tanker. On Tuesday, a 10-year-old boy and a labourer died in separate incidents after being hit by trucks. On Monday night, two young sisters were killed when an oil tanker coming from behind ran over them after the motorcycle they were riding slipped and they fell onto the road.