Guilty or not?: SHO suspended after suspect dies in custody
The death had caused an uproar in the Manghopir, where a protest was held.
The death had caused an uproar in the Manghopir, where a protest was held. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE.
KARACHI:
Manghopir police station’s SHO was suspended and two policemen arrested after a score of people protested against the death of a suspected robber in the law enforcers’ custody.
Khalid Ashiq, 20, and an accomplice were arrested on Saturday night from Nusrat Bhutto Colony. Two TT pistols were also seized from them.
SHO Nasir Mehmood, who was suspended by district West DIG Javed Odho after the incident, told The Express Tribune that he was on a six-day leave when the incident occurred, adding that the victim was involved in robbery cases and had been nominated in FIRs at other police stations as well.
Mehmood said the suspects were detained in the interrogation room situated on the first floor of the police station from where they tried to escape by jumping through the window. Ashiq died but his accomplice managed to survive the fall and escaped. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The doctors have sent some samples to the police laboratory for chemical examination. After Ashiq’s family found out what happened, they staged a protest. Ashiq’s friends and other people from the neighbourhood joined in and blocked Manghopir Road by setting tyres on fire.
The protesters claimed that Ashiq was falsely implicated, adding that the police tortured him to death after he refused to pay a bribe.
Police high-ups reached the site of the protest and dispersed the crowd, ensuring them the a case would be registered against law enforcers responsible for Ashiq’s death. SHO Mehmood was suspended while ASI Anwar and a constable Pervez were arrested.
DIG Odho said that action had been taken against the policemen because of the protesters and this does not mean that they are indeed responsible for Ashiq’s death. He added that no conclusions can be reached until a proper inquiry is conducted. He said that a judicial inquiry would also be conducted to probe the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2013.
Manghopir police station’s SHO was suspended and two policemen arrested after a score of people protested against the death of a suspected robber in the law enforcers’ custody.
Khalid Ashiq, 20, and an accomplice were arrested on Saturday night from Nusrat Bhutto Colony. Two TT pistols were also seized from them.
SHO Nasir Mehmood, who was suspended by district West DIG Javed Odho after the incident, told The Express Tribune that he was on a six-day leave when the incident occurred, adding that the victim was involved in robbery cases and had been nominated in FIRs at other police stations as well.
Mehmood said the suspects were detained in the interrogation room situated on the first floor of the police station from where they tried to escape by jumping through the window. Ashiq died but his accomplice managed to survive the fall and escaped. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The doctors have sent some samples to the police laboratory for chemical examination. After Ashiq’s family found out what happened, they staged a protest. Ashiq’s friends and other people from the neighbourhood joined in and blocked Manghopir Road by setting tyres on fire.
The protesters claimed that Ashiq was falsely implicated, adding that the police tortured him to death after he refused to pay a bribe.
Police high-ups reached the site of the protest and dispersed the crowd, ensuring them the a case would be registered against law enforcers responsible for Ashiq’s death. SHO Mehmood was suspended while ASI Anwar and a constable Pervez were arrested.
DIG Odho said that action had been taken against the policemen because of the protesters and this does not mean that they are indeed responsible for Ashiq’s death. He added that no conclusions can be reached until a proper inquiry is conducted. He said that a judicial inquiry would also be conducted to probe the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2013.