Detained under theft charge: Man dies in Mansehra jail

Administration, police accused of torture.


Express October 17, 2011

ABBOTABAD:


A man detained in Mansehra jail died under unexplained circumstances on Sunday evening, triggering a protest by his family members. The deceased’s family members accused the police and jail authorities of torturing the detainee. However, the jail administration denied the charges, saying the man died of medical reasons.


Jail sources stated that Ahsan Latif was arrested on October 4 on charges of stealing blankets from Ayub Teaching Hospital. The suspect was sent on judicial remand to Mansehra district jail.

The jail administration informed the suspect’s father, Sheikh Abdul Latif yesterday that his son had died due to medical reasons. The father and other family members took the body of the deceased to Sarban Chowk, suspending traffic on Karakoram Highway for about an hour.

Speaking to local reporters, Sheikh Latif accused the Mirpur police station in Abbottabad and Mansehra jail authorities for subjecting his son to severe physical torture that caused his death. He also accused the Ayub Teaching Hospital administration of implicating his son in a fake case.

Mr Latif demanded registration of criminal case against Mirpur police station in-charge, Mansehra jail’s superintendent and doctor.

This is the second case of custodial death in Abbottabad during the last eight months.

It is not the first time that such an incident has occurred in the Mirpur Police Station. According to sources, about 9 months ago a man by the name of Saqib Khan was arrested in a robbery case by the Mirpur police officials. While Latif lost his life after being shifted to the jail, Khan died in the police station; the jail authorities claimed the death to be a suicide.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2011.

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