Police’s lack of restraint
The police are allowed to carry firearms for the benefit of society, but sometimes they use guns with abandon killing innocent citizens. Dolphin Squad of the Punjab Police has acquired notoriety for the lack of restraint as it has killed several people in what its personnel claimed encounters. If someone is killed by the police, they claim that the killing took place in an encounter. However, the claim of encounter becomes doubtful as the dead persons carry the marks of bullet wounds on their bodies, but not one policeman involved in the ‘encounter’ suffers any injuries. Subsequent inquiries prove the encounter claim false
In recent days, overzealous members of the squad have killed several people in what they claimed encounters. They shot dead a shopkeeper in an alleged encounter, and claimed that the trader, accompanied by three armed men, was trying to kidnap a woman. The armed men opened fire on the police and an exchange of fire ensued. The police allegedly killed the shopkeeper. In another alleged encounter, the police shot dead a suspect who could have been arrested in injured condition. Video of the scene shows the suspect lying on the ground begging for mercy from a group of cops surrounding him. A little restraint would have saved a life.
Two other men, one of them differently-abled, and a woman was allegedly shot dead by the squad in various areas of Lahore. Several others were injured in alleged encounters. The wounded included a young man who had come out to buy medicines for his sick mother, and a shopkeeper who himself was the victim of a robbery. In March, a team of the squad was booked for the murder of an innocent man. The police aided the enemies of the dead man in his murder. Following growing complaints against the squad, the police high-ups arranged courses for squad members to sensitise them on restraint. There should be a fine ethical balance between protecting society and the rights of the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2020.
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