Street vendor allegedly tortured, humiliated

HAFIZABAD:

A street vendor was allegedly subjected to physical torture and public humiliation in Hasan Town after some associates of influential local residents accused him of standing in a street, police and family members said.

According to the victim, Gulfam, he was riding his bicycle through Hasan Town as part of his routine work when some men stopped him and told him not to stand in the street.

He alleged that the suspects accused him of harassing a girl, subjected him to physical violence and took him to a nearby dera.

Gulfam alleged that the men shaved his head, eyebrows and moustache, put a garland of shoes around his neck, blackened his face and forced him to ride a donkey while parading him through the locality.

They also allegedly recorded the incident and uploaded the video on social media, where it later went viral.

The incident came to light after the video circulated widely on social media. Taking notice of the footage, District Police Officer (DPO) Hafizabad Fawad Ahmed directed police to arrest those allegedly involved.

City Hafizabad Police subsequently arrested two nominated suspects, identified as Babar and Ali.

A case was also registered on the complaint of the victim's brother, Khurram.

The victim's mother, Iqbal Bibi, and his brother said the family was poor and had struggled to have their complaint heard.

They appealed to the authorities to provide Gulfam with justice.