Student killed extra-judicially was ‘booked in 28 FIRs’

Evidence from crime scene washed away in recent rainfall, says police

HYDERABAD:

Irfan Jatoi, the student of University of Sindh, Jamshoro, who was shot dead allegedly in a staged encounter in Sukkur district 25 days after he was picked from the varsity's hostel, was booked in 28 FIRs.

Hyderabad additional inspector-general of police (IGP) Dr Jameel Ahmed, who was assigned the incident's inquiry by Sindh IGP Mushtaq Mahar on March 9, disclosed at a press conference in Sukkur on Wednesday.

"Jatoi was nominated in 28 FIRs of different crimes lodged in police stations of some districts," he said. Additional IGP Ahmed claimed that evidence from the crime scene had been washed away by the recent rainfall.

Prior to addressing the press, Ahmed visited the crime scene located on a muddy road in the district's outskirts. He also recorded the statements of SSP Sukkur Irfan Samo and other policemen who were involved in the encounter which took place on the National Highway in the limits of Jhangro Police Station.

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The police had claimed that they received a tip-off that some outlaws had been spotted in the area and the informer said they were likely to commit a robbery. According to the cops, when the police team reached the spot the suspects opened fire on the police. Jatoi sustained a fatal gunshot in the exchange of fire but his accomplices escaped.

‘Picked up’

Meanwhile, according to Jatoi's family, the 25-year-old final year student was picked up by the Hyderabad and Jamshoro Police from the SU's International Hostel on February 10. The family maintains that the deceased student was missing till he was found dead. The family has also alleged that the Sukkur Police, which took custody of Jatoi from Hyderabad Police, had demanded a bribe for his release before he was killed.

On the other hand, the additional IGP said he had requested the family to record their statement during his March 24 visit to Sukkur but they did not turn up. He added that the family has now been called on March 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2021.