Policeman held responsible for newly-wed’s death

Nabeel fell from roof of apartment building during illegal raid by cops and died

KARACHI:

A police investigator was held responsible for the death of a newlywed youth, who fell from the roof of an apartment block in the Liaquatabad area earlier this month.

Nabeel Siddiqui was trying to evade an illegal raid by cops harassing him and his family over his marriage with Asiya against the consent of her parents, the report seen by The Express Tribune said.

The inquiry conducted by a committee headed by SSP Arif Aslam Rao concluded that the raid at Nabeel’s house was illegal. According to the inquiry report, demand for bribe by the investigation police led to Nabeel’s death. The victim got scared of being taken into illegal detention, ran to the roof from where he fell down and died.

The report formulated by SSP Rao said that Nabeel had contracted a freewill marriage with Asiya on March 2 in Karachi, on which Asiya's parents had registered a case against unidentified persons for abducting their daughter.

The inquiry states that Asiya had recorded her statement before the court that she was an adult and had married Nabeel out of her own free will under no duress. Moreover, Nabeel acquired bail before arrest sensing foul play by Asiya’s family.

Police officers probing into the incident questioned the cops who had raided Nabeel’s home. They could not provide any justification for the raid after bail. The inquiry report further said that the police raid was merely an attempt to seek bribe. The inquiry report recommended departmental action against SIO Inspector Shakeel and Sub-Inspector Amir.

It should be noted that the father of the deceased had refused to take legal action so the case could not be registered. However, police officer Amir was suspended by DIG West on the second day of the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2022.