‘Unlawful detention’: Man claims torture by sub inspector

Attending doctor notes internal injuries from severe beating.

BAHAWALPUR:

A 22-year-old man, who was allegedly picked up by a police sub inspector three days ago, was taken to Bahawal Victoria Hospital on Monday after he was found lying unconscious on the roadside.

Doctors treating the man said that he had internal injures from a severe beating. They said he also had bruises all over his body, but was now out of danger.

A case has been registered against the policeman nominated in the FIR registered by the man.

Muhammad Sohail, a welder, told The Express Tribune that Satellite Town check post in charge Sub Inspector Aslam Baloch had stopped him on Rafi Qamar Road on April 19 while he was on his way home from a neighbourhood mosque. He said the policeman had asked him to show him his national identity card. He said when he told him that he was not carrying it, the policeman dragged him into his vehicle and took him to the police station.

He said he next accused him of being a robber.

He said the in charge beat him up and suspended him upside down. He said he was starved for two days and told to confess that he was a robber. He said on his refusal, he was beaten up again.

On Sunday night, he said, when he fainted, the sub inspector threw him in front of the Wildlife Department office, where his (Sohail’s) father worked. He said the sub inspector had taken away the cash he had been carrying and his cell phone.

His parents had then taken him to the hospital and informed the police who filed a case against the sub inspector on Sohail’s complaint.

Sub Inspector Baloch denied the allegations.

DPO Sohail Zafar Chattha said he would personally look into the complaint. He said if the police officer was found guilty, strict action would be taken against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.