Relatives protest ‘custodial’ death of prisoner

Father alleges encounter staged after failed bid to flee

KURIANWALA:

Relatives of a kabaddi player who was killed in police firing three days ago protested by blocking traffic at the District Council Chowk and demanded action against the personnel involved in the incident, including the SHO of Satiana police station.

The protesters blocked the road for several hours and chanted slogans. Police officers negotiated with them and dispersed them.

The city police officer instructed the Jaranwala SP to investigate the incident.

Dozens of people led by Abdul Majid, a resident of the Jaranwala Saddar area, had gathered at the District Council Chowk and blocked the roads from all sides.

He alleged that Satiana SHO Qaiser Mukhtar Gujjar, ASI Malik Munir and other personnel had arrested his son a month and a half ago.

He said his son got out of a car while returning from a court after proceedings in a robbery case against him and fled along with another accused but they were caught by local people when the police shouted for help.

The man was handed over to the police by the people who had apprehended him but a team of the Elite Force shot and killed him, the father of the deceased claimed.

He alleged that his son had been killed at the behest of the SHO, ASI and other officials.

Abdul Majid claimed while speaking to reporters that his son had no criminal record. He accused the police of unjustly shooting dead his son in a fake encounter as a suspect to cover up their failure to curb robberies in the area.

The protesters were holding placards inscribed with slogans demanding justice and action against police officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2022.