Police accused of illegally raiding, detaining teen

Complainant says officers in plainclothes did not have a warrant, nor was FIR lodged

RAWALPINDI:

Residents of Sadiqabad on Sunday alleged that local police illegally raided a house and arrested a 13-year-old boy.

Waheed, a resident of Sadiqabad and works at a cloth shop, said that some police personnel in plainclothes had forced their way into his house at around 8pm on Saturday. He added that the police arrested his 13-year-old son and took him to the station where they demanded Rs50,000 to release him.

The victim said that after the police ‘raid’ he called the 15 helpline to complain. However, police later pressurised him to withdraw it.

Requesting the Punjab Inspector General, the Rawalpindi regional and city police officers to order an inquiry into the incident and provide him with justice, Waheed further stated that officers who had barged into his house sans warrants also harassed his wife and daughters, hurling abusive language and took away the Rs40,000 they found during a search of the residence.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi CPO Ahsan Younas confirmed that he has received Waheed’s complaint and said that the Newtown ASP has been tasked with probing the incident.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Newtown ASP Imran Khan said that he had received complaints about an SI and a constable and an inquiry has been initiated.

Once the inquiry is complete, action will be taken against the police personnel as per the law, he said.

Meanwhile, Sadiqabad Police Station SHO Tahir Rehan said that he conducted an inquiry into the incident as well, adding that the officers had raided the house while acting on a tip-off about a man involved in illegal businesses. Rejecting the allegations, Rehan further said the police personnel had only confiscated a motorcycle and no one was detained.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2020.