Inquiry initiated against cop over ‘custodial torture’

The Haripur district police officer (DPO) has ordered an investigation against a policeman in-charge of the checkpost near the Shah Maqsood Interchange in Haripur.

Viral images of the two brothers being tortured were shared widely on social media after which DPO Muhammad Umar Khan ordered an inquiry of the incident and the policeman in question.

According to sources within police, the medical report also confirmed that the brothers were tortured. They added that the checkpost in-charge Tariq Salim had arrested the two brothers from the union council Bagra and transported them to the checkpost where they were subjected to torture.

The security of people's lives and property is our first priority, said a stated attributed to the DPO. Any police officer or person found guilty of endangering that would face strict action, the statement added.

Local sources added that the policeman in question, Salim, already had three suspensions within a year. There had been numerous reports of violence and misuse of authority reported against him, but the top officials had not taken any action, the sources added.

When asked about the inquiry, Salim said that the allegations of brutal assault of two brothers, Asif Khan and Asim Khan, were unfounded.

The brothers were detained on suspicion of trespassing on private property and a first information report had been registered, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2023.