Hindu doctor shot dead in broad daylight in Karachi after handing over money to armed robbers, Pakistan

Case ID : 30a96cc | Location : Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan | Date of Incident : Tue, 14 July, 2026

Case ID : 30a96cc

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

14 July, 2026

Hindu doctor shot dead in broad daylight in Karachi after handing over money to armed robbers, Pakistan

Undecided cases

Murder of Hindus in Muslim majority nations

Case Summary

In Karachi, Pakistan, a young Hindu doctor, Dr Akash Kumar, was shot dead in broad daylight during an armed robbery in Karachi, Pakistan, even after handing over the money. This raised fresh concerns over the safety of the country's Hindu minority and the worsening law and order situation in Sindh. Dr Akash Kumar, a doctor at Karachi's Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), was travelling with his father and cousin near the busy Teen Talwar area after withdrawing cash from a bank when armed assailants intercepted their vehicle. According to his family, the attackers demanded money, and despite the cash being handed over, they opened fire, shooting Dr Akash multiple times in the chest. He succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards. The broad daylight killing triggered widespread outrage, with the victim's family questioning how such an attack could take place in an area reportedly covered by hundreds of surveillance cameras and under a heavy police presence. However, Karachi Police stated that the investigation remained underway and that officials were examining whether the fatal bullet was fired by the robbers or by a bank security guard during an exchange of gunfire. Authorities reviewed CCTV footage from the area and launched a manhunt to identify and apprehend those responsible. Dr Akash's family demanded a swift and transparent investigation, insisting that every individual involved in the killing be brought to justice. The incident also drew strong reactions from the medical fraternity, with colleagues mourning the loss of the young doctor and calling for stronger measures to ensure public safety. The killing once again highlighted concerns raised by rights groups regarding the security of Pakistan's religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Ahmadis, alongside the growing menace of violent street crime in Karachi. At the time of writing, the authorities had not announced any arrests in the case.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

The persecution of Hindus in Pakistan is well documented, with the community repeatedly facing targeted killings, abductions, forced religious conversions, discrimination, and attacks on temples and other religious institutions. However, the evidence currently available in this case does not conclusively establish that Dr Akash Kumar was killed because of his Hindu identity. According to the available information, Dr Akash Kumar, a Hindu doctor, was shot dead during what was reported to be an armed robbery. While he belonged to a vulnerable religious minority, there is, at present, no direct evidence to show that his religious identity motivated the attack. Accordingly, the case has been placed in the Undecided category pending the emergence of evidence that may establish a religious motive. That said, certain aspects of the incident warrant closer scrutiny. Reports indicate that Dr Kumar was shot despite handing over the cash demanded by the armed assailants. Ordinarily, once the perpetrators have obtained the valuables they sought, the use of lethal force becomes difficult to explain solely in terms of financial gain. While these circumstances raise legitimate questions about whether the attack involved motives beyond robbery, they are not, by themselves, sufficient to establish religious targeting. The incident must also be viewed in the broader context of the persistent persecution of Hindus in Pakistan. The Hinduphobia Tracker has documented several cases in which Hindu victims were attacked or killed even after complying with the demands of their assailants, giving rise to concerns that crimes presented as robberies may, in some instances, conceal anti-Hindu motives. This recurring pattern justifies subjecting such incidents to careful scrutiny. However, a broader pattern cannot, by itself, establish the motive behind an individual offence in the absence of case-specific evidence. Should further evidence emerge indicating that the Hindu doctor was targeted because of his Hindu identity, or that anti-Hindu hate played a role in the offence, the categorisation of this case will be reassessed. Until then, it remains appropriately classified under the Undecided database. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incident dates based on when a victim's ordeal began rather than the date on which the incident was reported by the media. In this case, the exact date on which the victim was shot is not mentioned; therefore, the date of reporting has been used for documentation purposes.