A youth was attacked with a knife when he stood up to a few men who were allegedly trying to take away vegetables from his parents' shop in Taltala without paying.
Police said Safi Ahmed, 27, a resident of Taltala, was stabbed multiple times when he asked the men to pay for the vegetables.
Three men — identified as Manowar, Afridi and Saif — approached the shop on Aga Mehdi Street around 10.30pm and started selecting vegetables, the police said.
“They tried to take away the vegetables without paying for them. This was their common practice," said an officer at Taltala police station.
"The owner’s wife was at the shop when the three turned up on Saturday night. When she asked for money, the men allegedly refused. She called her husband. The men picked a fight with him when the couple’s son arrived.”
One of the men allegedly stabbed Safi in his stomach. A profusely bleeding Safi was taken to NRS Medical College and Hospital, where he would undergo surgery.
The police said a case of attempt to murder has been started against the three, who have been named in the FIR.
One of the accused, Manowar, 50, has been arrested. "A search is on for the other accused," the officer said.
People in the neighbourhood said the trio were in the habit of forcing shopkeepers to give them items for free.
“If any shopkeeper protested, they would abuse him or her. The attack on Safi has left us shocked," said a resident of the neighbourhood.
The police said Safi’s condition was “stable”.