The protesters accused the police of arresting the three men for extortion and subjecting them to torture in their custody. PHOTO: FILE
The injured were taken to Allied Hospital, where one of them was reported to be in critical condition. She was referred to a hospital in Lahore.
The protesters, residents of Odh Basti Mureedwala, accused the police of arresting the three men for extortion and subjecting them to torture in their custody. They said the police were supporting their rivals who they said they had a property dispute with.
The protestors blocked the Mureedwala Road by burning tyres.
When a police party was sent to disperse them, some of them threw stones at the policemen and tore their uniforms when some protesters were pushed.
Four people, including a woman, were injured.
They were taken to Allied Hospital, from where the woman was referred to Lahore. They were identified as Khan Muhammad, Nadeem, Raheela and Jamshed.
Nadeem Husain, one of the protestors, said that the Mureedwala police had registered an extortion case against three of his relatives- Asghar Ali, Muhammad Iqbal and Muhammad Anwar. He said the police had tortured them and had refused to release them.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the SHO said that Advocate Khalid Masood had filed a petition against the three men and accused them of demanding Rs100,000 protection money from several traders. He said they (accused) had been calling the traders to threaten them with dire consequences.
He said the court had ordered the Samundri police to register a case against them.
The SHO later the police party had resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling because the mob was getting violent and attacked some policemen. He said instead of demonstrating on the roads, the family should move a court.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2013.
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