Sleeping smoker: ‘Minor burns’ prove fatal for robbery accused

The suspect had accidentally set himself on fire in police custody in Mandra.

RAWALPINDI:

A man who allegedly set himself on fire by accident in the lock-up of Mandra Police Station two days back died of his injuries at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Saturday.  

Sadaqat Hussain alias Shoka, 45, died in the morning at the HFH Burn Unit and his body was still in the hospital mortuary as his family had not contacted the police when this report was filed.

Doctors at the Mandra Rural Health Center (RHC) and the Gujar Khan assistant superintendent of police (ASP) had previously said that on Wednesday night, Hussain fell asleep with a lit cigarette in his hand. The cigarette had set his clothes on fire.

According to doctors at HFH, the deceased had burns on over 60 per cent of his body, including his limbs, chest and abdomen. Earlier, the policemen had informed the media that the man only suffered minor burns.

Hussain, who was a proclaimed offender in a theft case registered on March 1 2012, was arrested by the Mandra police last week and was being kept in the lock up despite the fact that a magistrate had ordered that he be sent to Adiala Jail.

The Mandra police had initially maintained that the arrested man was under stress after being arrested in connection with the theft case and denied he was tortured by the police.

However, a police official at Mandra insisted that Hussain was tortured, apparently to get him to give up the location of the stolen items.

This is the third death in police custody in Rawalpindi Division in recent months and the second in Mandra Police Station.

Earlier, a man accused of robbery was allegedly beaten to death by the Mandra police and a murder case was registered against seven policemen after the family of the deceased protested and blocked GT Road.

Earlier this year, the Wah police allegedly tortured an Afghan national to death after he was arrested in connection with the killing of a policeman. The responsible policemen are also facing a criminal case.

The Express Tribune tried to contact senior Rawalpindi police officials to confirm if an inquiry or case had been initiated against the policemen responsible, but no one was immediately available for comment.

However, talking to a private TV channel, Saddar Division Superintendent of Police Abdul Waheed Khattak said all necessary action would be taken against the policemen on duty, while admitting that there was negligence on the part of the police, considering that the man caught fire and suffered fatal burns in their presence.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2012.