Aggravted assault: Two beaten up and mutilated

DG Khan farmer’s nose chopped off by ‘crop theives’, man in Multan assaulted ‘over irrigation dispute’.

MULTAN: Two men were beaten up and their noses chopped off in two incidents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan on Sunday.

In Multan, Muzaffarbad police arrested two of the five men accused of cutting Muhammad Nawaz’s nose allegedly over an irrigation dispute.

Nawaz was taken to Nishter Hospital where his condition was later stated by doctors as ‘out of danger’. Doctors said a surgery was needed to reattach his nose.

Nawaz’s complaint against Shabbir Hussain and Qasim accused the two of chopping off his nose following a quarrel on Sunday.

Talking to The Express Tribune at the police station, the suspects denied that they had had a dispute over distribution of water with the complainant, who was a relative. They said they had chopped off his nose because his actions were bringing a bad name to the family. They alleged that Nawaz was encouraging his daughter into an illicit relationship with an influential landlord of the area. “Nose is related to honour. He has brought dishonour to himself as well as the family. He deserves the punishment,” Shabbir said. He said they had warned him a number of times to mend his ways.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, Taj Muhammad was beaten up and his nose chopped off allegedly by five men trying to harvest gram crop from his field in Patti Zai area on Sunday.

Muhammad was taken to Dera Ghazi Khan district headquarters (DHQ) hospital where doctors later described his condition as ‘out of danger’. DHQ hospital medical superintendent Dr Fazal Kareem told The Express Tribune that Muhammad had lost a lot of blood by the time he was brought to the hospital. He said a delay in hospitalisation could have been fatal. The doctor said the DHQ hospital lacked the facilities for a surgery to re-attach the nose. He said the patient would be sent to Nishtar Hospital in Multan in about two days.

Gadaayi police have registered an FIR against the suspects including Muhammad Shafi, Khadim Hussain, Abdullah and Usman Ahmed under Sections 334, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code. SHO Rana Iqbal said raids were underway to arrest the suspects who had fled their houses.

Talking to The Tribune from an undisclosed location, the suspects denied having cut Muhammad’s nose or attempting to steal from his field. They said they had quarreled with the complainant after he was caught trying to sexually assault one of Khadim and Abdullah’s sisters.

They said Muhammad and his two accomplices had forced entry into their house in their absence and tried to assault the woman. They said the complainant was caught and beaten up, while his accomplices managed to escape. “He later cut his nose himself to be able to file a police case against us,” they said.

The suspects said they would move a court on Monday morning seeking a pre-arrest bail in the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2012.