Teenager’s death: Dozen charged for violent protest at police station
Residents claim Osama Tahir fell to his death while evading police who saw him flying a kite
Residents claim Osama Tahir fell to his death while evading police who saw him flying a kite. PHOTO: NNI
RAWALPINDI:
The Racecourse police have registered a terrorism case over a violent protest outside their police station in the wake of the death of a teenager who fell from a rooftop while flying a kite.
The police registered the case against 12 men and 60 unknown persons on the complaint of ASI Samiullah Khan. The suspects had allegedly placed the body of 17-year-old Osama Tahir outside the station and carried out a demonstration against the police. The incident took place on Friday evening.
The police booked the protesters under charges of terrorism, injuring policemen, damaging public property, and obstruction.
In his complaint, the ASI said that Dilawar Khan and others tried to enter the police station building and set fire to two police motorcycles parked outside the station. He said that the police had to use tear gas to disperse the violent protesters.
Sources said Osama Tahir fell from the roof of a house in Mohalla Hajjian. Residents of the area claimed the boy fell while attempting to escape the police, who would have arrested him for breaking a ban on flying kites arrest.
The police, on the other hand, claimed that the boy fell while fighting with another boy on the rooftop as they both attempted to grab an errant kite. The police said that the protests took Osama’s body from Rescue 1122 officials and placed it outside the station, where they chanted slogans against the police.
Residents of Rawalpindi observed Basant on March 4, despite a government ban and aggressive policing. The police apparently failed to discourage kite fliers and vendors during Basant.
Racecourse SHO Inspector Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas said the force had registered a case and started an investigation.
He added that the police have made no arrests so far. The police have, however, been carrying out raids to arrest those who attacked the station, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2016.
The Racecourse police have registered a terrorism case over a violent protest outside their police station in the wake of the death of a teenager who fell from a rooftop while flying a kite.
The police registered the case against 12 men and 60 unknown persons on the complaint of ASI Samiullah Khan. The suspects had allegedly placed the body of 17-year-old Osama Tahir outside the station and carried out a demonstration against the police. The incident took place on Friday evening.
The police booked the protesters under charges of terrorism, injuring policemen, damaging public property, and obstruction.
In his complaint, the ASI said that Dilawar Khan and others tried to enter the police station building and set fire to two police motorcycles parked outside the station. He said that the police had to use tear gas to disperse the violent protesters.
Sources said Osama Tahir fell from the roof of a house in Mohalla Hajjian. Residents of the area claimed the boy fell while attempting to escape the police, who would have arrested him for breaking a ban on flying kites arrest.
The police, on the other hand, claimed that the boy fell while fighting with another boy on the rooftop as they both attempted to grab an errant kite. The police said that the protests took Osama’s body from Rescue 1122 officials and placed it outside the station, where they chanted slogans against the police.
Residents of Rawalpindi observed Basant on March 4, despite a government ban and aggressive policing. The police apparently failed to discourage kite fliers and vendors during Basant.
Racecourse SHO Inspector Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas said the force had registered a case and started an investigation.
He added that the police have made no arrests so far. The police have, however, been carrying out raids to arrest those who attacked the station, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2016.