Insecurity prevails among vendors selling sacrificial animals as different criminal groups have so far snatched over 200 animals in Karachi.
On Saturday, armed men on motorcycles and mini-trucks arrived at a cattle market in Korangi No 5. Sources said the men held three traders hostage on gunpoint and stole eight goats and four cows before escaping. They said at the time of the robbery, a police patrolling party was also present near the market.
A vendor, Abdul Rehman, said, “We informed the police, but they did not take any action to pursue the robbers.” He said over 150 traders pay Rs 1,000 daily to the police for security, but after pocketing the money, the law enforcers seemingly forget about providing security.
The animal vendors at the cattle market in Korangi said over 50 animals have been snatched in the past 10 days alone by using different methods.
Separately, animal vendors at the cattle market on Super Highway said over 83 traders have been deprived of 150 animals so far.
On Saturday, three men agreed to pay a vendor Rs 200,000 for four animals. After loading the animals on their truck, the buyers offered a cold drink to the vendor. After drinking the beverage, the animal seller lost consciousness as the drink was spiked. When the vendor regained consciousness, he discovered that the buyers had escaped with the animals.
Moreover, recounting his recent visit to a cattle market, Inam Khan said, “Three days ago, when I parked my car in the parking lot of the market, four men on two motorcycles snatched Rs 80,000, two mobile phones and a gold ring from me on gunpoint. When I informed the police, they expressed no interest in the matter. They only registered the complaint.”
Sources said people in the administration of the cattle market inform the bandits about customers carrying a lot of cash with them. The administration people take their cut from the criminals after they’ve looted the animal buyers, the sources added.
