A police team in the Kallar Syedan area of Rawalpindi came under attack by 'armed' individuals, who subjected the former to violence, took them hostage, and looted cash, mobile phones, and wireless sets following an emergency police call over a complaint of an illegal possession of property.
A case was registered against over 30 suspects, including women from the area, and eight nominated accused were arrested. A video also surfaced showing the police officers allegedly being confined in a house.
Sub-Inspector Ahmad Nadeem, who was leading the police team, stated that they had arrived at the residence of Yasmeen Alam in Dhoke Gadhala to investigate a complaint from a citizen named Qamar, received on the police emergency number 15.
When they inquired about the complaint, suspects Muhammad Saleem and Ghulam Abbas became agitated. The suspects then called for others from the neighborhood to gather. Ramsha Bibi, Nasreen Bibi, and five other women, along with around 30 men armed with sticks and pistols, arrived at the scene.
The suspects launched an attack on the police team. Attacker Hassan Abbas struck SI Nadeem with the butt of his pistol, while Saleem attacked with a stick, injuring him. When Nadeem fell to the ground, the suspects raided the police team, beating them severely.
Attacker Abbas used his weapon to forcibly take Nadeem's mobile phone, while his accomplice Ghulam Farooq snatched cash and cards, and Saleem took the wireless set. The suspects also caused damage to the official police vehicle and motorcycle.
The suspects then took the entire police team, including Nadeem, to Saleem's residence and confined them there.
During the altercation, the police uniforms were also torn. Meanwhile, Qamar, the complainant, contacted the police emergency number, alerting them about the situation. Additional police arrived at the scene, but suspects Saleem and others resisted, looting cash, mobile phones, wireless sets, and other items, and confining the police officers.
The police authorities said that a case had been registered, and raids were being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects.
Additionally, a video surfaced showing the police officers allegedly confined in the house. The footage shows the police officers sitting on sofas, drinking water, and a woman can be heard saying, "This is our police, who come at night and shoot, beating and threatening women and children." In the video, a woman is also heard appealing to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The SI in the video is heard responding, "This is not right."
A police spokesperson clarified that the police team had gone to the woman's house following a 15 emergency call to inquire about the matter. The other group, involved in a dispute with the complainant over illegal possession, resisted.
The spokesperson claimed that the police didn't fire at any point during the incident.
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