Rawalpindi police says legal action underway after man dies of 'police brutality' at Taxila check post

The victim's family says children pleaded with cops to spare the 30-year-old man, to no avail

RAWALPIND:

The Rawalpindi police on Saturday initiated legal proceedings following the death of a 30-year-old man at the Gangu Police Check Post in Taxila, with a police spokesperson assuring that a fair investigation would be conducted and those responsible would be held accountable.

The incident reportedly occurred when a man, travelling from Khanpur towards Taxila, was stopped by police personnel at the Gangu checkpost for a search of his vehicle.

Read: Afridi alleges police brutality

Local residents and the victim's family alleged that the man was subjected to severe physical assault by police personnel during the search. His family claimed that the man repeatedly pleaded with the officers to stop beating him with batons, while children at the scene also cried and appealed to the police to spare him.

According to the family, the 30-year-old died at the scene as a result of the alleged police torture.

News of his death triggered protests in the area, with angry residents blocking the Taxila-Khanpur Road and surrounding police personnel, The Express Tribune witnessed on the site.

According to Rawalpindi Police Spokesperson Inspector Sajjadul Hassan, senior police officials reached the scene after the incident sparked the road blockade and widespread protest.

“Legal proceedings are underway, and the matter would be investigated on merit to apprehend those found guilty of homicide,” Inspector Hassan told The Express Tribune.

Eyewitnesses said some protesters also assaulted police officers, leaving one policeman seriously injured.

Read more: Casualties reported after JAAC, police clash in AJK's Rawalakot

The incident sparked tensions in the area, prompting senior police officials to reach the site.

The police spokesperson said the road, which had been blocked during the protest, had subsequently been reopened to traffic.

The incident comes amid a series of allegations of police brutality and misconduct reported in Rawalpindi this year. In several of these cases, police authorities announced inquiries or departmental action following complaints and the emergence of video footage. The latest incident at the Gangu checkpost in Taxila, however, has raised further questions about police conduct during roadside checks and the use of force against civilians.

In August, a police constable was suspended and issued a charge sheet following the emergence of a video showing the alleged mistreatment of a citizen at Gujjar Khan Police Station.

In April, three students accused plainclothes police personnel of assaulting them at the Dahgal checkpoint on Adiala Road before taking them to Adiala Police Post, where they were allegedly tortured and threatened with false charges. One of the students subsequently approached the Rawalpindi city police officer, seeking legal and departmental action against the officials involved.

In February, a 12-year-old boy was allegedly tortured at Rawat Police Station, prompting the suspension of three police officials and an inquiry into the incident. The same month, a resident accused personnel at RA Bazaar Police Station of torture, blackmail and extortion, while another case involved a 45-year-old man who sustained severe burn injuries after allegedly setting himself on fire at a police post. His family accused police personnel of torture, although the police disputed the allegations and said an inquiry had been initiated.