Excessive force: ASI suspended after transgender death

Karim alias Keeta died after she was arrested from a dance party

BAHAWALPUR: District Police Officer (DPO) Sarfraz Falki on Sunday suspended an ASI from duty after the death of a transgender dancer in police custody. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against the policeman.

According to She-Male Association Bahawalpur president Sahiba, a police team from Civil Lines station, led by ASI Aashiq Cheema, raided a house in Model Town Block C on October 23 where a dance party was underway. “The policemen arrested several dancers, including Karim Bakhsh alias Keeta.



They took them to Shahdra checkpost. The policemen beat up Keeta, who later died from the beating wounds,” Sahiba said.

She said that the transgender community would stage protests if no action was taken against the policemen responsible for Keeta’s death.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a spokesman of the Bahawalpur RPO said that policemen had taken Karim Bakhsh into custody. “He was put into the police van along with other suspects.

As they were being taken to the police station, Bakhsh jumped out of the van and was injured. She was taken to a hospital by Rescue 1122. She was discharged from the hospital on Friday. However, when she reached home she died from her wounds,” the spokesman said.

Legal Branch DSP Muhammad Shahid Iqbal will head the inquiry against Cheema.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2014.