Relatives decide against pressing charges in ‘killing by police’

Say they can’t allow an autopsy of the body.

FAISALABAD:

Heirs of a woman allegedly killed in a police raid on Saturday have decided against applying for a case against the police officials who raided the house.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Bashir Ahmed, brother of deceased Dolat Bibi, said the family did not want a post-mortem examination of the body.

He said the decision to not file a murder complaint was taken after the Rodala Road police refused to take action against the assailants, officials of Lahore police, without an autopsy.

Ahmed said Dolat Bibi was beaten to death by men in police uniforms who raided their house in Chak 383-GB.

He said the men had introduced themselves as officials of the Lahore Crime Investigation Agency and said that they were looking for some criminals.

He said other residents were also beaten up upon resisting their attempt to enter the house without warrants.

He said on seeing Dolat Bibi’s condition after the beating, the raiding team fled from the scene in a police van and a car.

Rodala Road Station House Officer Rana Tahir said he could not proceed against the suspects unless the relatives of the deceased agreed to autopsy.

He confirmed that the men who raided the house were officials from Lahore police.

He said he had no prior knowledge of a police team from Lahore looking for criminals.

The SHO, however, said that he did not intend to seek action against the team over the violation of rules.

The Criminal Procedure Code states that before carrying out a raid in areas that do not fall in their jurisdiction, the police must inform the SHO of the police station concerned.

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