The friend of the youth killed in an alleged encounter by a cop in civvies gave a statement to the police alleging that the suspects never said they were police.
Orangi-5 Police Station SHO Azam Gopang was suspended, Constable Tauheed and his civilian friend Umair were under arrest for killing 14-year-old Arsalan Mehsud and injuring his friend Yasir Khan. According to West District SSP Suhai Aziz Talpur, the statement of injured student Yasir was recorded. As per the victim, "me and Arsalan were going home from coaching centre on a new motorcycle, "when two men in shalwar kameez riding a motorbike signalled us to stop."
Yasir said that they thought the men were robbers and increased the bike's speed, on which the men later identified as Constable Tauheed and his local oppened indiscriminate fiore on us.
The victim told the police that he suffered bullet injuries to the leg and ran away, while Arsalan died on the spot. Yasir said after reaching a safe distance he informed the family members about the incident from his cell phone.
SSP Suhai said Tauheed was on intelligence watch and ward duty and therefore had nothing to do with checking citizens. Moreover, she said, policemen deputed on security and checking duty have strict orders to wear uniform.
Read More: Man injured in ‘encounter’ dies
Laid to rest
The funeral prayers of Arsalan Mehsud were offered after Asar prayers at Eidgah Ground in Baldia Town and the body was laid to rest in the ancestral graveyard.
The funeral was attended by DIG West Nasir Aftab, regional PTI leaders, relatives, and others. DIG Aftab has said that the incident did not take place at any police check-post. "The inquiry committee will soon submit its findings," he added.
Case registered
A case of killing a youth and injuring his friend in a fake police encounter in Orangi Town was registered in Orangi Town police station on the complaint of the deceased youth's uncle Badshah Khan under provisions of murder, attempted murder, terrorism and others.
Badshah said that on the orders of SHO Azam Gopang, policeman Touheed and his accomplice Umair were on intelligence duty when Arsalan was shot dead and his friend Yasir was injured.
According to the complainant, Touheed and Umair, clad in plainclothes, at the behest of SHO Gopang were snatching the motorcycle and opened fire on resistance, killing his nephew Arsalan and injuring his friend.
Talking to the media outside the Edhi morgue, the uncle of the slain youth, Badshah Khan, said the three suspects nominated in the case deserved death penalty. "There will be no compromise and if anyone offers to pay even a billion rupees as compensation, we will not accept it," he said.
Mystery pistol
Police said a 30-bore pistol was found at the scene of the alleged encounter. It has not been determined who owns the pistol. The arrested police official claimed that the pistol was found in the possession of slain Arslan. Police officials said that it has been decided to get the forensics of the pistol conducted and the said pistol has been handed over to the investigating police. The forensic report will reveal the actual facts.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2021.
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