Man killed in police assualt

Police takes notice after family members and neighbours of the deceased stage protest.

LAHORE:

A young man was killed during an assault by three policemen here, but his uncle signed a statement on Tuesday that he did not want anyone prosecuted for the death and so the body was released to the family.

The DIG (Operations) had on Tuesday suspended the three policemen and ordered an inquiry into the incident, after family members and neighbours blocked the road in Gujjarpura police jurisdiction in protest at the killing of Naveed Ahmed, 25. The deceased lived in a rented room in Muhammadia Colony and made school bags.

According to locals and family members, Fiaz Ahmed, Mujahid and Umair Ahmed of the Mujahid Squad first accosted Naveed Ahmed at his home a few days ago, stating that someone had complained about him for playing loud music.

They left after he paid them a Rs1,000 bribe. But they returned the next day, saying he was still playing music too loud.

An argument ensued and the police officials beat him. They began dragging him out of the house, pulling at the scarf around his neck. When they noticed that he had stopped breathing, they fled the scene.

Family members and neighbours placed his body on the road and staged a protest, after which the police took notice.

DIG (Operations) Rai Tahir suspended the three Mujahid Squad officials and ordered an inquiry. He said that a case would be registered once a complaint was received from the family of the victim.

However, later on Tuesday, Naveed Ahmed’s uncle Haji Muhammad Ibrahim made a statement to the police that his nephew had a heart condition and had died of a heart attack, and so the family did not want any investigation.

The body was then handed over to the family for burial.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2013.