Suspects arrested in JPMC doctor murder case killed in exchange of fire with accomplices, police claim

The three suspects arrested in connection with a young doctor’s killing during a robbery near Karachi’s Teen Talwar were killed in an exchange of fire on Thursday, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) claimed.

The SIU statement claimed it conducted a raid in Ahmed Brohi Goth, near the metropolis’ Northern Bypass Toll Plaza, to arrest the three suspects’ accomplices.

The suspects were taken to the location, within the jurisdiction of Gulshan-i-Memar police station, to identify their accomplices. However, the accomplices allegedly opened fire on the police party upon seeing the law enforcers.

The police further claimed that the three suspects and a police official were injured in the exchange of fire and were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). However, the three suspects succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital, according to the police.

The police claimed they were searching for the absconding suspects, adding that further legal proceedings were underway.

A judicial magistrate granted police a seven-day physical remand of the three suspects on July 16, which ended today. Police had originally sought a 14-day physical remand.

Dr Akash Kumar, a doctor at the JPMC, was killed on July 13 after robbers intercepted his vehicle near Teen Talwar and escaped with around Rs2 million that he was carrying after withdrawing cash from a private bank.

The killing sparked widespread outrage within the medical community, with doctors staging protests at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where Dr Akash served as a house officer. The Pakistan Medical Association also condemned the killing, describing it as evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi.

Police said that Dr Akash arrived at a bank to withdraw Rs5m, of which he kept Rs2m and Rs3m in separate white envelopes. It said that the vehicle with Dr Akash, his father, a cousin and the cash envelopes was intercepted by four robbers on two motorcycles when they arrived at their location, which was a second bank.

It said that one of the suspects opened the car door and fired at Dr Akash, who then died after being shifted to the hospital. It said that a case of the incident was subsequently registered on the complaint of the suspect’s father.

The police, in a statement, said that on the night of July 14, a suspicious car was seen in Defence area. It said that officials pursued them and arrested three suspects, adding that mobile phones and three pistols were also seized, for which a case was registered.

The police statement added that a white Suzuki Alto allegedly used by the suspects to flee, bearing fake registration plates, was also seized.

According to a press release dated July 15, the suspects told investigators during initial interrogation that they were involved in the doctor’s killing.

They said that they had monitored the victim before the robbery and had an accomplice inside the first bank, who alerted them after Dr Akash withdrew the cash.

Police said the insider informed the gang about the victim’s appearance and the amount withdrawn, enabling them to intercept the vehicle as it headed to the second bank.

Police added that the arrested suspects belonged to a gang involved in robberies and street crimes across Karachi and had criminal records, adding that raids were under way to arrest their remaining accomplices.