Intellectually-challenged man killed by Dolphin Squad

Family, relatives protest and chant slogans against police

LAHORE: A man suffering from an intellectual disability was shot dead by an official of the Dolphin Squad in Nawan Kot on Saturday.

The family of the victim and locals of the area held a protest against the killing by blocking roads and chanting slogans against the police.

According to witnesses, the victim, identified as Umair, was suffering from a cognitive disorder mental illness. He came on the road with a knife and started attacking passersby. He reportedly injured four or five people.

Meanwhile, a citizen named Ismatullah informed the police at 15. A Dolphin Squad Sabzazar Team No 115 responded to the call and reached the spot. They tried to stop the man, but Umair attacked a Dolphin Police Official Mubashir from the behind. He suffered at least four to five wounds and is in the hospital in critical condition, said SP Iqbal Town Syed Ali. Afterward, a Dolphin Police official shot at the victim who received a bullet injury and died on the spot.

The incident infuriated people who gathered around Umair's body and started a protest. They also held Dolphin Police officials hostage.

A passerby told the media that the suspect had stabbed a few people. He had also attacked Dolphin Police officials.

The protesters continued their demonstration, while police took the body into their custody and shifted it to a morgue for an autopsy. A police team also collected forensic evidence from the crime scene and recorded statements of eyewitnesses.

DIG Operations Waqas Nazir said that the police were investigating the matter from different angles. DIG also asked SP Iqbal Town to submit a final report of the incident.

In May this year, a teenage boy was shot dead in the crossfire between Dolphin Force and suspects on Band Road, Nawan Kot. Police claimed that the officials had signaled a vehicle to stop. He added that the five men attempted to drive away from the spot and opened fire at the police. However, the family members of the victim blamed the police for the incident. They had also staged a protest and blocked the road for hours.