Inquiry reveals police negligence in rail tragedy

Exonerates accused policemen of involvement in death of a female passenger

LAHORE:

A preliminary report on a recent train tragedy underscores the criminal negligence exhibited by the relevant Railway Police officials. However, it also found no evidence implicating the accused policeman, Constable Mir Hassan, in the death of a female passenger.

Maryam Bibi, a beautician, embarked on a journey from Karachi to spend Eid holiday with her family in Jaranwala, Punjab, via Millat Express on April 7.

During the journey, the woman reportedly endured torture by Constable Hassan near Hyderabad, as evidenced by a video of the incident and media reports. Two days later, her body was discovered near the Chani Goth railway station in Punjab's Rahim Yar Khan district.

Read more: Cop who thrashed woman in train granted bail

Initially, her family presumed her death to be an accident resulting from falling off the train. However, the emergence of the video footage compelled railway authorities to establish a fact-finding committee to probe the death.

According to Pakistan Railways spokesperson Babar Raza, the committee concluded that Constable Mir Hassan was present in Hyderabad at the time of her death.

Sources indicate that the committee has conducted an initial inquiry into the incident and submitted its report to the Pakistan Railways chairman.

Also read: Video reveals woman pushed to death from train

During the compilation of the report, the committee interviewed train staff, eyewitnesses, and passengers aboard the train on April 7.

The report states that Constable Mir Hassan's involvement in the woman's death could not be substantiated. It attributes the woman's demise to falling or jumping from the train.

However, the constable was found responsible for assaulting the woman passenger.

On April 12, an FIR was lodged against Mir Hassan, initiating formal proceedings.

Duty Officer ASI Tanveer Ahmed of Railway Police Station Hyderabad failed to take action despite the commotion involving the woman passenger and was unsuccessful in resolving the matter with the assistance of women police officers on duty.

SHO Ghulam Hussain of Railway Police Station Hyderabad also neglected to address the issue by visiting the train, displaying extreme criminal negligence, as per the report.