Relatives of man killed in police ‘encounter’ stage protest

Demand registration of FIR against officials involved in ‘custodial death’

HYDERABAD:

A suspect shot and injured in an alleged police encounter late on Wednesday succumbed to his injuries at Liaquat University Hospital on Thursday.

According to police, 28-year-old rickshaw driver Mehboob Ali Laghari had sustained gunshot during an exchange of fire in Latifabad.

Laghari's family staged a sit-in protest outside the SSP's office along with the dead body alleged that the slain person and his brother-in-law's son, Noman Laghari were picked and detained by police on May 8 and four days later Mehboob was killed in what they claimed was a custodial murder.

The protesters demanded arrest of SHO Imran Rasheed and registration of FIR against him and demanded immediate release of Noman.

The police officials negotiated with them, giving assurance of taking action if the fake encounter is established in the inquiry, but the protesters did not accept the assurance and continued the sit-in.

The police spokesman claimed that a patrolling team of B-Section police, led by SHO Imran Rasheed, signalled two persons riding a motorbike to stop near the Board Stadium in Latifabad on Wednesday night. The suspects did not stop and tried to make their escape on which the police party opened fire as a result Leghari sustained bullet injuring on his leg. He was rushed to the hospital where he died.

The spokesman alleged that Laghari was involved in theft and robberies in Qasimabad, Naseem Nagar, Bhittai Nagar areas and also within the B-Section police limits.

The spokesman added that Leghari was a member of criminal gang and three FIRs were registered against him in Karachi at PS Sharifabad, PS Liaquatabad and PS New Karachi Industrial Area.

The family has, however, contradicted the allegations of the police.

Zafar Laghari, brother-in-law of the deceased, told the media that Mehboob and Noman were picked up by the Latifabad police on May 8. Later, a police party raided their residence. "Police killed Mehboob in a fake encounter and now I fear for the life of my son," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2022.