SUKKUR: Two policemen, including an ASI, were arrested by the Ghotki police for neglecting their duty, which led to the death of a woman in police custody on Monday.
Mukhtaran, the wife of Dana Malik and a resident of Pir Bari village, had visited the Khanpur Mahar police station on Saturday. She demanded protection from her former husband and brother, who wanted to kill her on the charge of karo-kari. The police provided her shelter and she was presented in the district and sessions court Ghotki.
In her statement to the court, Mukhtaran refused to go to her parents and opted to live in Darul Aman in Sukkur, and the court ordered the police to escort her there.
ASI Safdar Malik, constable Ilyas Malik, sub-inspector Saba and constable Makhno Langah were on their way to Sukkur with Mukhtaran on Monday evening in a private car. Only constable Langah was armed with a Kalashnikov, which he put away on the request of Ilyas Malik.
Five armed men on two motorcycles began following them when they reached the Mahesaro police check post. Mukhtaran recognised her former husband and brother and requested the policemen to speed up. The armed men stopped the car, dragged Mukhtaran out of the car, shot her and fled.
The DPO Ghotki took notice of the incident and ordered the immediate arrest of the policemen. ASI Safdar Malik and constable Ilyas Malik were arrested. The Ghotki police registered two cases, one for negligence against the policemen taken into custody, and another for murder against Dana Malik, Khadim Malik, Asghar Malik and Akhtiar Malik. No arrests have been made as yet. The Express Tribune learnt that Dana Malik divorced Mukhtaran a couple of months ago after declaring her kari.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2011.
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