Three detainees’ family blocks road

Protesters claim police, others barged into house, beat them and stole valuables

KURIANWALA:

A number of residents of Radatali, including women, held a protest demonstration and blocked a road at District Council Chowk against alleged police misconduct and detention of three men.

The protesters alleged that police officials along with other people barged into the house of the three men, physically assaulted the women and stole valuables.

Moreover, it was reported that when Chak Jhumra SHO Asif Nadeem Butt and lawyers went for talks with the protesters, the official was allegedly manhandled.

The SHO managed to escape the attack, while other police officers held talks with protesters for four hours.

Meanwhile, citizens faced severe difficulties due to the road blockade.

The protesters led by Taslim Kausar, the wife of Muhammad Shahid and a resident of Chak No 116JB, Radatali area, staged a demonstration along with women and blocked traffic at the intersection.

The protesters alleged that Nishatabad DSP Fayyaz Ehsan along with the Chak Jhumra SHO and around 150 other people, including their opponents, allegedly entered their house and started searching it without permission.

They alleged that the police physically assaulted women and took cash, gold jewellery, a mobile phone, a licensed rifle, pistols and motorcycle from the house.

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The demonstrators also accused the police of abducting Waqas, Zahid and Shahid.

Police stripped Zahid and Shahid and tortured them, the protesters claimed. The police officers had misused their powers, they alleged.

An application was submitted to the regional police officer (RPO) regarding the torture and abduction incident.

The protesters also alleged that police officers had threatened to kill the family.

They said the policemen climbed on the rooftop of the house and allegedly resorted to aerial firing in an attempt to cover up the alleged crime as a police encounter. The protesters accused the intruders of vandalizing their property.

The SHO, who arrived to negotiate with the protesters, was allegedly attacked by some of them at the District Council Chowk.

Later, DSP Rana Ataur Rehman, Civil Lines SHO Atiqur Rehman Shah and Rail Bazaar SHO Rana Shehzad reached the spot, negotiated with the protesters and assured of action over the complaint, after which they dispersed.

On the other hand, the Chak Jhumra SHO said that a search operation was conducted in the area on the day of incident. During the operation, the suspects resisted the police and opened fire, injuring Constable Haq Nawaz, he alleged.

A case was registered against the arrested suspects under the provisions of terrorism, attempted murder, interference in government work and illegal weapons.

“Protesters are holding demonstrations to blackmail the police. Action is being taken against those who tortured me,” the SHO said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2021.