Protesters claimed that both the boys had been sexually abused before they were killed. . PHOTO: FILE
Relatives and neighbours of two boys, who were found strangled allegedly by a police volunteer, protested against the police on Monday. The boys had been picked up from Ghulam Muhammadabad a few days ago.
The protest continued for more than four hours. The protesters dispersed after they were informed that the suspect had been arrested.
The protesters said that both the boys had been sexually abused before they were killed. They demanded that the suspects be arrested immediately and punished publicly.
Ateequr Rehman, one of the protesters, said that the boys, both residents of Ejaz Town, were friends and had studied at the same school. He said they had gone missing on September 8.
He said they had gone to meet some friends and did not return.
He said one of the fathers had filed a complaint with the Ghulam Muhammadabad police, but they did not take it seriously.
They kept telling him that the boys must have gone visiting some friends, Rehman said.
On Saturday, he said, one of the bodies was discovered in a field near Chak Shehzada Dingro.
Police had arrested his father on suspicion and questioned him about the second boy. He said the next day, the other child’s body was found from another field in Diyal Garh. Rehman alleged that both the boys had been killed due to delay in police action.
The protesters blocked the Dogar Chowk in Ghulam Muhammadabad by burning tyres and setting up pickets. They demanded that the Ghulam Muhammadabad station house officer, Naveed Murtaza Cheema, and Investigation Officer Aslam Sabri be suspended from service.
Lyallpur Town Police Superintendent Sahibzada Bilal Umar visited the scene and informed the protesters that a suspect had been arrested.
They told them that the suspect was a police volunteer. The SP assured them that investigations were ongoing and that the murderers would be caught and punished. He also assured them that he would take action against negligent police officers.
SHO Cheema told The Express Tribune that the police had acted timely. He said Muhammad Ehsan, a police volunteer, had been arrested and had confessed to the crime.
He claimed that one of the boys had blackmailed him over an illicit relationship. He said he had the other boy because he, too, knew about it.
Police said the bodies had been sent for post-mortem examination.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2013.
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