Case registered in mysterious death of man

A day after a man died in mysterious circumstances following a fire that erupted in the office of a local newspaper in the Faizabad area, New Town police registered a case against unknown persons on Thursday.

Initially, I-9 police and New Town police disputed the jurisdiction of the incident before senior police officers of both districts intervened and settle the issue.

Police said that the victim who perished in the fire has been identified as Gul Muhammad, 18, who used to work as a massage therapist to make a living.

The deceased's brother, Muhammad Shan, told the police that he and his late brother lived in Dhok Elahi Bakhsh.

He told the police that on April 19, at 1 am, Gul Muhammad told him that he was going to the local newspaper's office as he had been called for a massage.

He said that when Muhammad did not return home till late night, he went to the local newspaper's office to search for him. He said that when he reached the location, he found the office lit on fire and his brother was burned to death.

The complaint said that the victim had been murdered for unspecified reasons by unidentified individuals.

Police shifted the body to the Holy Family Hospital for a post-mortem. According to the police, the post-mortem report will transpire whether the victim was killed first before setting the body on fire. The victim's body will also undergo a forensic examination to determine if the victim had been raped before his murder.

Police said that no one was detained and attempts were being made to locate the security guard on duty as he has gone missing.

Police said that the newspaper's management was completely cooperating with the police inquiry, and attempts were also being made to obtain CCTV footage of the locality and surrounding buildings.

The police handed over the body to the heirs following medico-legal formalities.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2023.