Police Torture: Boy burned by cops dies from injuries

During interrogation, accused was severely tortured and set on fire by police for refusing to concede to the crime.

FAISALABAD:

A 16-year-old boy allegedly tortured and set on fire by police, passed away in Allied Hospital Faisalabad on Friday after remaining under treatment for six days.

Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the death of the youth and has directed Punjab Inspector General of Police to submit a report on the custodial killing within 24 hours. According to details, In-charge Police Post Pul Dingro took Azeem into custody on theft charges on September 29, 2011. During the interrogation, the accused was severely tortured and was later set on fire by police officials for refusing to concede to the crime. Doctors on duty said that 35 per cent of Azeem’s body had been burned.

Taking serious notice of the incident, City Police Officer (CPO) Rae Tahir suspended three police officials including Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Saeed Anwar and two other police officials. Nishatabad police had registered a case against the accused police officials and arrested them. However, Millat Town Police booked fifty relatives of Azeem on charges of staging a demonstration and  creating nuisance.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2011.