Picture shows an open manhole in the metropolis. PHOTO: FILE
Four bodies were recovered from a manhole near Mai Kolachi railway track in Karachi on Friday, authorities said. The discovery was initially reported as a single body, prompting police and rescue teams to rush to the scene.
According to officials, the bodies of two women, one man, and a boy had been partially concealed with stones by unknown individuals. Immediate identification of the victims was not possible. The Crime Scene Unit (CSU) sealed the site, collected evidence, and, with the assistance of Edhi Foundation personnel, recovered the bodies and transported them to Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Docks Police Station SHO Nand Lal confirmed that the post-mortem and medico-legal officer (MLO) inspection will determine the cause of death and how long the bodies have been in the manhole. It is not yet clear whether the victims were killed elsewhere and dumped in the manhole or murdered at the scene. The investigation will advance further once the identities of the deceased are confirmed.
Kemari SP Zain Raza Baloch said preliminary observations indicate the bodies may have been in the manhole for over ten days, though officials cautioned that the exact timeline cannot yet be confirmed. He added that the sewage water in the manhole had affected the condition of the bodies. Police are conducting a detailed investigation into the incident.
Reacting to the discovery, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed police and relevant authorities to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation, reviewing all aspects of the incident to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Interior Minister Sindh Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also took notice of the case, requesting a detailed report from Kemari SSP. He urged authorities to ascertain the motives, causes, and factors behind the killings and ensure the swift identification and arrest of those responsible.
