Police brutality?: Train passenger beaten to death

Eight cops allegedly thrashed the man, who was trying to sleep

RAWALPINDI:

A 38-year old passenger was allegedly tortured to death by the Railway police on Wednesday. A source in the police department told The Express Tribune that the police told a passenger on Mehar Express, later identified as Muhammad Saleem Khan, to vacate the sleeping berth. An argument started which later resulted in a scuffle. Around eight cops started beating the passenger, who fell unconscious during the assault,” the sources said.

In the meanwhile, the Railways SP and other officers took the body into custody and shifted it to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) for autopsy. The body was handed over to the family once medico legal requirements were completed.

The deceased was a resident of Piplam in Mianwali district and was working as a driver at the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNAR) in Islamabad. His heirs include his wife, two daughters and two sons, the source added.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the railway police on the complaint of the deceased’s brother The eight nominated cops were ASI Muhammad Latif, head constable Liaquat, and constables Waseem Abbasi, Nasir Masih, Muhammad Raffique, Abdul Rashid, Ameer Hamza and Ameer Umer. All eight men have been arrested.

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and the Railways IG could not be contacted for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2014.