Dolphin Squad assaults on citizens continue

LAHORE:

The cases of misuse of power have continuously been reported in the metropolis against the Dolphin Squad, a specialised patrolling wing of the Lahore Police, as another citizen was beaten up by the personnel on Wednesday.

Every other day the cases of mishandling of citizens and abuse of power are multiplying in the provincial capital.

At least two cases of abuse of power have been reported within a week. The recent incident was reported in Green Town last night.

A citizen identified as Amir was subjected to brutal torture by a team of Dolphin Squad. They beat him up black and blue.

Allegedly his teeth were broken down and he suffered injuries on his arms and legs.

Amir said he had called in police for help for an issue related to monetary dispute with some people.

As the team reached, instead of helping him out misbehaved with him and started beating him.

On the other hand, Dolphin Squad police alleged that they had responded to dispute among gamblers. As police reached the spot and intervened, they started a dispute with police. SP Dolphin Squad Rashid Hayyat has taken notice of the issue and appointed a DSP as an investigation officer to submit a report before him. He added that the action would be taken as per the law.

On September 15, a Dolphin Squad team had been allegedly accused of harassing a woman in Iqbal Town. A family had come for shopping in the market where a Dolphin Squad team official sexually harassed a girl on which her brother was infuriated.

On exchange of harsh words, they subjected him to severe torture. As is the norm in such cases, SP Rashid Hayyat appointed a DSP as an investigation officer to the probe the incident.

Since the force was formed and deputed on patrolling duty, cases of abuse of power have continuously been reported in the city.

There have been multiple times when Dolphin Squad abused the power to the level that they opened fire on the citizens. In mid-March, a Dolphin Squad team had been found accused of premeditated murder in Iqbal Town.

Hassan Bhatti, a victim had alleged that Dolphin Squad officials on March 13 had shot at him from the back. The initial investigations had revealed that the suspected Dolphin Squad officials targeted the victim on the behest of his opponents.

However, further investigation was underway.

The victim died at a local hospital during treatment. On March 18, the Dolphin Squad officials shot at and injured a youth identified as Umar in Chung area. The victim said he was returning home after attending a marriage ceremony with a friend.

The Dolphin Squad following them to home and opened fire. In January this year, the squad had shot at and injured a shopkeeper, a victim of a robbery, while responding to a call on 15 in Abdali Chowk, Islampura.

The Dolphin Squad had also shot dead a woman in Naseerabad, a mentally disabled man in Gulshan-e-Ravi and a youth on Band Road.

Last year, Dolphin Squad officials had shot at and injured a youth in Gulberg. He was returning home after purchasing medicine for her mother. The officials rather than shifting him to the hospital took him to the police station and subjected him to severe torture. In May 2019, they shot dead a woman in Naseerabad.

They had also mentally disabled in Gulshan-e-Ravi and youth on Band Road during the last two years.

Then SP Dolphin Squad Bilal Zafar had started refresher courses after Naseerabad women murder case. The issue of deteriorating Dolphin Squad as a soft-image and promoting community policing had been discussed by various IGPs. However, the cosmetics steps taken by them have never born any results.