Cop who killed student is ‘mentally ill’

Sources say Alam was recruited in police despite his unstable health condition

SWAT:

The police constable who opened fire on a school van, killing a girl and injuring five others in Swat, was mentally ill, sources said on Thursday.

He was recruited in the police force despite his illness.

Sources said Alam had joined the special police force in 2007 and was later regularised.

He had also opened fire on his father due to unknown reasons.

The cop’s father, Hazrat Umar, told the media that his son was based in Karachi.
He said, one day his son’s friend called him asked him to come to Karachi, saying Alam was sick.

Umar said when he reached Karachi, he came to know that Alam was admitted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. He said the doctors told him that his son was mentally unstable and would remain in the medical facility for two months.

Umar said he brought his son back from the sanatorium and got him treated by one Dr Haider Ali who gave him electric shocks.

He revealed that when his son’s health condition improved he again joined the police force without asking him.

Umar said after Dr Ali, his son was being treated by Dr Nizam who had “strictly advised” him to take the “pills”.

He said Alam behaved properly in the police force but was not aware why he opened fire on the school van.

It was reported that the police constable would suffer seizures during duty and remained absent from work for a long time, following which he was suspended. He was later restored and regularised.

It was further said that the police department was aware of Alam’s mental illness.
On Tuesday, one girl was killed and five others injured when the constable opened fire on the school bus in Swat.

District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur said the accused constable had been arrested and put behind bars.