Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of a young Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) house officer, Dr Akash Kumar, who was shot dead during a robbery near Teen Talwar in Karachi’s Clifton area on Monday.
According to a South Zone police press release, investigators revealed that an accomplice working inside a private bank tipped off the robbers about the cash withdrawal.
The incident occurred when Dr Akash, accompanied by his father, withdrew Rs5 million from a bank. He split the cash into two separate white envelopes containing Rs2 million and Rs3 million.
Four robbers riding two motorcycles intercepted their vehicle near their next destination, which was a second bank. During the robbery, one of the suspects opened the car door and shot Dr Akash. He was transported to a hospital where he died of his injuries.
Following the incident, police registered a case based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father under Sections 34, 397, and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
On Tuesday night, police spotted a suspicious vehicle in the Defence area. After a pursuit, officials arrested three suspects and seized three pistols, mobile phones, and a white Suzuki Alto with fake registration plates, which was used in the escape.
During initial interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the killing. They told investigators that they had monitored the victim after receiving information from an insider working at the first bank.
The accomplice inside the bank alerted the gang about Dr Akash’s physical appearance and the exact amount of cash he had withdrawn, allowing the robbers to track and intercept the vehicle.
The arrested suspects are part of an organized gang linked to multiple street crimes and robberies across Karachi and have existing criminal records. Police are currently conducting raids to arrest the remaining members of the gang.
The press release was issued after a press conference held by South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Asad Raza and Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) DIG Muqaddas Haider in Karachi.
The officials shared these details during the briefing, where DIG Raza stated that police collected over 100 CCTV camera files from various areas to track down the suspects.
“It helped us unearth the identity of the suspects and arrest them,” DIG Raza said, noting that one arrested suspect was recently released on bail, another was facing trial, and the third was an absconder.
DIG Raza identified the arrested suspects as Suresh, Ram Chand, and Anil. He stated that they had been residing in Karachi but originally hailed from Daharki, Thul, and Naushahro Feroze. He also ruled out personal enmity as a motive for the murder.
The killing has triggered protests from the medical community at JPMC. The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has condemned the murder, pointing to the incident as evidence of the declining law and order situation in the city.
