Police on Tuesday suspended the station house officer (SHO) of Orangi Town after a mob in the area lynched a suspected robber, who was burned alive shortly after a citizen was shot dead during a robbery attempt.

Officials said SHO Yusuf Mehr was removed for negligence after failing to reach the scene in time. He has been directed to report to the West Zone headquarters.

The incident occurred on Monday morning in Orangi Town’s Sector 7-F when two armed men allegedly killed Abdul Hannan, a factory worker and father of one, during a robbery.

As the suspects tried to flee, residents captured one of them, identified as Sajid, and subjected him to severe violence.

The mob tied him to an electric pole, beat him, and set him on fire. He died from his injuries while being taken to the hospital. The second suspect escaped.

Police have now registered a third case in the matter, this time on behalf of a police officer, against 30 to 35 unidentified people under Sections 302, 393 and 397 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Residents of Baloch Goth say robberies have become routine, with “dozens of incidents daily” leaving people afraid to leave their homes.

The local councillor urged police to intensify patrolling, noting that 82 people have been killed in Karachi this year during robberies or resistance.

Police said investigations into both the killing of Hannan and the mob lynching are underway.