‘Accidental killing’: Autopsy report casts doubt on police’s narrative

Villagers allege police threatening them against pursuing the case.

FAISALABAD:

The post mortem examination report of a man, Chak Jhumra police claim was killed by a stray bullet in its shootout with robbers on March 7, states that he was shot at point-blank range.

This, the report says, appears to contradict the statement that Tajammul, 28, a renowned footballer of Kacha Jhumra area, was killed accidently being caught in the crossfire.

The report prepared by a panel of doctors at Allied Hospital stated that the deceased was shot in the forehead by a gun at point-blank range. “The gun was so close to his forehead that some of the carbon residue from the shooting was left around the wound,” the report said.

The report would be submitted to a judicial magistrate who is inquiring the case on April 6.

Tajammul’s relative Abdul Kareem said the police were pressuring the family into withdrawing their complaint in the matter. He said they were being threatened with dire consequences for not dropping the prosecution.

“Some of the villagers were called to the police station and warned against testifying at the next hearing of the judicial inquiry,” he said. He alleged that some of the villagers were beaten up by the police.

Tajammul’s brother Asif and a friend said they were accompanying him on March 7 on his way back home after playing a football match in Rasoolpur Ranwala village.

They said Tajammul was arrested by police on his refusal to stop at a picket. Asif said he and another companion managed to escape the police. The family were later told that Tajammul was killed by a stray bullet in a shootout between police and some robbers at the picket, he added.

Superientent of Police (Madina Town) Chaudhry Tahir Maqsood rejected that impression that police were pressuring the family of the deceased into withdrawing the case. He said he would personally assure that the family was able to pursue the case free from any pressure by police officials at Chak Jhumra station. He said a judicial inquiry was also underway to ascertain the cause of death.

“If there is a complaint against the police, they can report it to the judge probing the matter,” he said. He said action would be taken against the police if complicity on their part was proved in the inquiry.

The SP said it appeared that the man had been killed by a bullet fired by one of the robbers who attacked the police team at the picket on March 7.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2012.