Karachi police arrests three suspects allegedly involved in young doctor’s murder during robbery | The Express Tribune

The Karachi police said on Wednesday that the force had apprehended three out of the five suspects allegedly involved in the robbery and killing of a young doctor at Teen Talwar earlier this week.

Addressing a press conference at his office, South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Syed Asad Raza confirmed the arrest while accompanied by Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Karachi DIG Muqaddas Haider.

Dr Akash Kumar, a 28-year-old doctor, was shot dead on Monday after armed robbers intercepted his vehicle near Teen Talwar in Clifton and escaped with around Rs2 million that he was carrying after withdrawing cash from a private bank. The murder had sparked widespread outrage from citizens as well as the healthcare community.

Following the incident, Raza said he formed a special investigation team headed by South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mahzoor Ali. The team included the South SSP (investigation), station house officers and investigation officers.

“The team obtained CCTV footage from the banks and surrounding areas, traced the suspects’ escape routes and identified them through CCTV analysis,” Raza revealed during the press conference.

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He further said that police spotted a suspicious car in Defence on Tuesday night and after the personnel pursued the vehicle, they were able to arrest three suspects linked to the aforementioned robbery-homicide case.

“Police seized three pistols and mobile phones from the suspects alongside the car bearing a fake number plate used by them for escape.”

Raza said cops registered separate cases under Section 23(i)(A) at the Defence Police Station.

Outlining findings of the preliminary investigation, Raza said, the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in Dr Kumar’s murder.

He said the suspects admitted to conducting a recce on the victim through their accomplice inside the bank from which Dr Kumar withdrew the money.

“The suspect, Ram Chand, identified the victim, noted his appearance, and alerted his accomplices that Rs5 million had been withdrawn and was being transported from one bank to another for deposit. Following the tip-off, the assailants performed the armed robbery.”

The DIG said further investigation revealed that the arrested suspects were members of a gang allegedly involved in numerous robberies and street crimes across Karachi.

He disclosed that the arrested suspects arrived in Karachi from other parts of the province and resided near Kala Board in Malir.

“A total of five suspects were involved in the robbery, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining two.”

DIG Raza said police confiscated the weapons, mobile phones and vehicles used in the robbery-homicide case and recovered the stolen Rs2 million following the arrest of three suspects.

Recalling the events leading up to the robbery, he said the young doctor, along with his father, arrived at a private bank in Clifton Block 7 at around 11:40am and withdrew Rs5 million in cash.

Read: Young doctor killed in Clifton bank robbery

“The money was placed in two envelopes. He placed the envelope carrying Rs3 million on the front seat and Rs2 million envelope inside a bag beside him,” the DIG detailed, adding that the family then drove towards another bank near Frere Hall.

“Before the victim and his father could get out of the car to enter the other bank, four men intercepted their vehicle on two motorcycles,” he explained, adding that one of the suspects dismounted and opened fire at the bank’s security guard, injuring him, and another suspect approached the car’s rear, opened the window and shot Dr Kumar, leaving him critically wounded.

“The assailant then forcibly snatched the envelope containing Rs2 million from Dr Kumar before fleeing with his accomplices on the two motorcycles.”

DIG Raza said the injured young doctor was taken to a private hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries.

He highlighted that a first information report was registered at Frere Police Station against the armed robbers under Sections 34 (common intention), 302 (premeditated murder) and 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Responding to a question, the DIG refuted claims of “pressure” to solve the case, citing that police solved 85% of robbery-homicide cases this year after arresting nominated suspects in the cases.

He stated that this was the first robbery-homicide case registered in the South district this year, claiming that surveillance footage played a key role in identifying and apprehending the suspects.

A press release issued by the spokesperson of the South Zone police post press conference revealed that the suspects were previously nominated in several criminal cases.

According to the police, one of the suspects in the case attributed as the shooter who killed the doctor, was wanted in five cases registered by the police and the counter terrorism department.

Similarly, another suspect had been previously nominated in eight criminal cases and two Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell cases.

The spokesperson said police were conducting raids to arrest the two suspects on the run in the case.

Separately, Sindh Minister for Home Affairs Ziaul Hassan Lanjar commended the police for the swift arrest of the suspects, saying the case would serve as a deterrent to criminals.

In a statement, the home minister said that Dr Kumar’s killing was an “extremely tragic and heartbreaking” incident, adding that the government stood in solidarity with the victim’s family in their grief.