Death in custody: Seven cops suspended

FAISALABAD:

A station house officer and six other policemen were suspended following intense protest and sit-in outside Langrana police station, Chiniot, for several hours on Thursday against death of a youngster in police custody.

Dozens of villagers laid siege to the police station and later pelted the building with stones, forcing officials to lock themselves inside.  They also tried to set the building alight but were prevented by timely intervention by some influential men of the area and the district police officer.

According to details, Muhammad Anwar, resident of Chak No223 JB, was arrested by Langrana police station four days on murder charges.

Anwar had died during interrogation. His relatives alleged that Anwar had died due to torture by police attempting to get a forced confession.

The relatives of the deceased said they had gone to take the body but police refused to hand it over and instead locked the building from inside. They later made announcements through the village mosque and called a large crowd to the scene. The villagers attacked with sticks and rods some police officials who had come out to disperse the crowd.

They later blocked Jhang-Chiniot Road causing inconvenience to traffic for several hours. The crowd dispersed after the DPO issued suspension orders for the SHO and six other officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2011.