Women police station: Children go missing after being handed over to police
Family alleges that police asked for money in exchange for the two children .
KARACHI:
Two children, who were supposed to be handed over to their parents, mysteriously went missing from the Woman Police Station, Saddar on Wednesday.
The NGO, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), brought 15-year-old Usman and 11-year-old Noor Alam to the police station at 1:30 am on Wednesday after they were reported lost at a mela or fair in Hyderabad.
A local took them to the Latifabad police station, where the police asked SPARC to escort them to their parents’ house in Karachi. “Since it was too late to take them home to their families, the woman police station agreed to provide them shelter for the night and hand them over to the parents in the morning,” said Nazra Jahan, an official of the organisation.
But when morning came and the morning-shift police officers arrived, the two boys were nowhere to be found. “Has the earth swallowed them? We have no idea of what happened to the boys,” remarked one officer on the condition of anonymity.
The woman police station SHO, Hajra Usman, remained firm on her stance that the custody of the boys were given to Usman’s uncle and his mother. “The family took the children home. I will show you the undertaking,” she said, while a police officer in another room wrote a fake custodian letter. Hajra, who seemed confused when asked about the time the boys left with their families, alleged that someone was conspiring against her.
Police officials said that Noor Alam’s parents could not be traced.
The other side of the story
Meanwhile, a visit to Usman’s house in Korangi No 5, revealed a different side of the story. “The female SHO called us in the morning to arrange Rs30,000 for the release of the children and I immediately went to the market to sell my jewelry,” said a weeping Saleha, Usman’s mother.
According to Usman’s uncle, Haroon Rasheed, two police constables arrived around noon at their doorstop to ask for the money and took him to the police station. “I gave the money to inspector Hajra after which another police officer took my signatures and fingerprints for the undertaking,” alleged Haroon. As the police completed their formalities, Rasheed said that he asked for the children but Hajra replied that they were released an hour ago and would reach their home shortly.
“What was the need to release the children when policemen arrived at the house to take me to the police station? I don’t know what she has done with them,” said Rasheed.
Hajra denied the charges and said that she had not taken any bribe. “I don’t know where they are. I gave them to their uncle.”
Following the incident, two police officials, Hanifa and Noman, were suspended. Sindh home minister, Manzoor Wassan, has given orders for an inquiry against inspector Hajra.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2012.
Two children, who were supposed to be handed over to their parents, mysteriously went missing from the Woman Police Station, Saddar on Wednesday.
The NGO, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), brought 15-year-old Usman and 11-year-old Noor Alam to the police station at 1:30 am on Wednesday after they were reported lost at a mela or fair in Hyderabad.
A local took them to the Latifabad police station, where the police asked SPARC to escort them to their parents’ house in Karachi. “Since it was too late to take them home to their families, the woman police station agreed to provide them shelter for the night and hand them over to the parents in the morning,” said Nazra Jahan, an official of the organisation.
But when morning came and the morning-shift police officers arrived, the two boys were nowhere to be found. “Has the earth swallowed them? We have no idea of what happened to the boys,” remarked one officer on the condition of anonymity.
The woman police station SHO, Hajra Usman, remained firm on her stance that the custody of the boys were given to Usman’s uncle and his mother. “The family took the children home. I will show you the undertaking,” she said, while a police officer in another room wrote a fake custodian letter. Hajra, who seemed confused when asked about the time the boys left with their families, alleged that someone was conspiring against her.
Police officials said that Noor Alam’s parents could not be traced.
The other side of the story
Meanwhile, a visit to Usman’s house in Korangi No 5, revealed a different side of the story. “The female SHO called us in the morning to arrange Rs30,000 for the release of the children and I immediately went to the market to sell my jewelry,” said a weeping Saleha, Usman’s mother.
According to Usman’s uncle, Haroon Rasheed, two police constables arrived around noon at their doorstop to ask for the money and took him to the police station. “I gave the money to inspector Hajra after which another police officer took my signatures and fingerprints for the undertaking,” alleged Haroon. As the police completed their formalities, Rasheed said that he asked for the children but Hajra replied that they were released an hour ago and would reach their home shortly.
“What was the need to release the children when policemen arrived at the house to take me to the police station? I don’t know what she has done with them,” said Rasheed.
Hajra denied the charges and said that she had not taken any bribe. “I don’t know where they are. I gave them to their uncle.”
Following the incident, two police officials, Hanifa and Noman, were suspended. Sindh home minister, Manzoor Wassan, has given orders for an inquiry against inspector Hajra.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2012.