Cops and kidnappers: Victim’s family protest outside police office

Say cops refused to catch kidnappers as they were hiding at a landlord’s residence.

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

A large protest demonstration was held on Saturday for the recovery of a kidnapped woman.

A large number of the kidnap victim’s relatives protested outside the offices of the regional police officer and also threw stones and shoes at police officials before they were removed from the area.

According to police officials, scores of residents from Mauza Chakar, district Rajanpur staged a large demonstration demanding the recovery of kidnapped women in front of the office of the regional police officer (RPO) Dera Ghazi Khan.

“We have been approaching the police for over a week but they have not done anything. People are going missing all the time and the police take days to even register a case,” said a protester Aliya Munawwar.

The protestors were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the police and called for the immediate recovery of kidnapped woman Musamat Husna. Husna’s husband Noor Mohammad told reporters that Mohammad Bukhsh and his accomplices had kidnapped his wife and stolen her jewellery. “They had threatened to take my wife because of a land dispute after we quarrelled. I told police officials about it and about where they were but they did nothing,” he said.

Despite the registration of a case against kidnappers, Shahwali police refused to arrest them after the accused allegedy sought refuge at a local tribal elder Jalal’s house. Bukhsh told reporters that the police refused to even check the house. “They said they would not ‘disturb’ Jalal as he was not involved. Everyone in the village knows the men are hiding there,” he said.

The protestors also lodged an application with the resident police officer (RPO) for the recovery of his wife. “It took the police over a week to even file a case and now that they have the men have managed to hide. I don’t know if they are holding my wife in the village but the police have refused to even look,” he said.

RPO Mohammad Nawaz directed DPO Rajanpur Sohail Warraich to ensure the immediate recovery of the kidnapped woman.

“We have registered a case and are investigating the matter,” the DPO said. Police officials negotiated with Husna’s family and the protesters dispersed after hours of blocking the road in front of the police station.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2011.