Teenager killed in Karachi bike snatching sparks protest

KARACHI: An 18-year-old man was shot dead by armed robbers during a motorcycle snatching in Orangi Town, prompting his family and relatives to stage a protest and block a road on Sunday, police said.

According to police, Ibrahim Kerry had left his home in New Mianwali Colony late on Saturday night and was travelling on his motorcycle when two armed men stopped him within the limits of the Pirabad police station. Police said the suspects tried to take his motorcycle at gunpoint, and when he resisted, one of them opened fire before fleeing with the vehicle.

The teenager suffered a critical bullet wound to the chest and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

On Sunday evening, the victim’s family and other relatives held a sit-in while carrying his coffin and suspended traffic on the road. They refused to bury him until those responsible for the killing were arrested.

West SSP Tariq Ilahi Mastoi said police reached the site and convinced the protesters to end the demonstration. After the protest was called off, the body was taken to a church for funeral rites.

The senior officer also suspended the station house officer of the area and instructed investigators to gather evidence and obtain CCTV footage from nearby locations to help identify the attackers.

Factory worker killed in SITE

In a separate incident, a factory worker was stabbed to death in the SITE area on Sunday, police said.

SITE-A SHO Mir Mohammed Lashari said Hanif Mohammed, 40, was attacked by two men shortly after he came out of his workplace near Nauras Chowrangi. He said the victim, who belonged to Sakrand, had arrived in Karachi about a month ago.

According to the SHO, the suspected attackers were relatives of the victim, and initial findings suggested the killing stemmed from a matrimonial dispute. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.