SHO among nine booked for ‘custodial death’

Victim was tortured, handed over to cops by girlfriend’s family

At least nine people including an SHO were booked over an alleged custodial death in the district. Police said a week ago, Mazhar Iqbal, a resident of 403 GB was caught from the house of her girlfriend. He was handed over to the police after being tortured by her family members. Police allegedly kept torturing him by calling him a dacoit which led to his death.

Police had registered a case of murder against seven persons including the relatives of the girl nominated in the complaint filed by the victim's brother Shahmand Ali while hiding the facts. When CPO Faisalabad Captain (retd) Sohail Chaudhry initiated an inquiry into the complaint the facts came to the light. Nine policemen including SHO City Tandlianwala Inspector Arshad Randhawa, Hawaldar (moharrar) Khizar Hayat, Deputy moharrar Abrar were suspended over negligence of duty and misuse of power.

Meanwhile, Shahmand Ali, a labourer of 403 GB in City Tandlianwala police station, filed a case on April 15 under the provisions of murder. Ali stated, “My brother Mazhar Ali was coming home from Nursery Tayba Town via Bypass Road van the suspects Masood, Iqbal, Nisar, along with their two accomplices Saqlain and Waheed tortured my brother with pistol butts and sticks on suspicion of having illicit relations with their sister.” A case has been registered against seven suspects under Sections 148, 149 and 302 while raids have been launched for their arrest.