Ahsan was killed in exchange of fire between cops: CTD

Court gives physical custody of four accused to CTD police

KARACHI: A local court gave the physical custody of  the four police officials arrested in the case pertaining to the death of minor Ahsan Kashif to the counter-terrorism department (CTD) police on a four-day physical remand.

The judicial magistrate in the local court was hearing the case on Wednesday in which the CTD police presented the four accused police officials. The accused included constables Khalid, Amjad, Abdul Samad and head constable Pyar Ali.

The investigation officer informed the court that the police officials had been arrested after their identification by eyewitnesses. The court inquired why the accused were being presented in court after so many days. The investigation officer replied that the investigation had been transferred to CTD just a day back.

The CTD investigation officer informed that the empty bullet shell found from the crime scene matched the weapon of one of the policeman. It has also been found that no police encounter took place, instead it was a conflict between two police officials over the issue of money. Abdul Samad fired at Amjad during their fight but the bullet struck Ahsan and his father Kashif.

The statements of eyewitnesses are yet to be recorded, said the CTC police. The court handed over the four accused to CTD police on a four-day physical remand.

The case against the accused was registered at Sachal police station. The case was handed over to the CTD police on Tuesday on the directives of Sindh Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr Kaleem Imam upon finding flaws in the initial police investigation.

According to the initial report, there was an exchange of fire between the police and dacoits, during which a bullet struck Ahsan, the 19-month-old, and his father Kashif. However, the police had failed to find more than one empty bullet shell at the crime scene. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2019.