Police excesses: Baton-charge leaves four BISP recipients unconscious

RATODERO:

Police baton charge left four women unconscious and one woman with a fractured leg at a Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) counter in Larkana on Monday morning.

Hundreds of destitute women had gathered outside a private bank near the Chandka Bridge to get their monthly financial support of Rs1,000. The crowd, however, soon got out of control and it became free for all. The police deployed there resorted to baton charge to rein in the situation. Due to the police action Hajani Jatoi, Rubina Khoso, Karima Shar and an unidentified woman fell unconscious and were shifted to Chandka Medical College where doctors termed their condition serious. The woman with the broken leg was identified as Hajani Jatoi.

The women told the media that the hot weather, absence of shade and drinking water made them lose patience. They also complained that there was only one counter for women belonging to Larkana taluka which was not enough.

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