Teenage boy shot by police over 'selfie with toy gun'

Seventeen-year-old boy succumbs to injuries after police open fire on him in a park

FAISALABAD: A teenage boy was killed by police firing in Faisalabad on Tuesday after they reportedly mistook the 17-year-old for a robber. 

According to details, 17-year-old Fahad Javaid and his friend were taking pictures of themselves with a toy pistol in a park when police from Peoples Colony police station opened fire on them. As a result, Farhan and Fahad received serious bullet injuries and were shifted to Divisional Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

“Fahad and Farhan went to Safina Park in Madina Town and were taking pictures with a toy pistol when a police team came on the spot and opened fire on them without asking any questions,” Sultan Naseer, Fahad's uncle told The Express Tribune.

“As a result, Farhan and Fahad both received bullet injuries and were shifted to DHQ Hospital where Farhan succumbed to his injuries. Farhan’s condition is serious,” Naseer added.

On the complaint of deceased’s father, Muhammad Ali, a case under section 302, 324 and 34 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has been registered against SHO Peoples Colony Faryad Hussain and he has been arrested.

However, Hussain claimed, “I received an anonymous phone call that some dacoits are busy in looting people on a road from Faizan-e-Madina Chowk towards Rakh Branch Canal.”

“Along with a heavy police contingent, I reached the spot and saw two dacoits looting people and asked them to surrender but they started to fire at us,” he added.

“The police returned fire and during this encounter, one of the dacoits received bullet injuries and fell down on the ground whereas his accomplice managed to escape from the scene.”

The SHO further said, “The injured dacoit was later identified as Farhan son of Iftikhar Ahmad.”

“A 30-bore pistol was also recovered from the injured outlaw whereas special police team has also been constituted to trace the whereabouts of the escapee,” the SHO added.

Meanwhile, City Police Officer (CPO) Faisalabad Afzaal Kausar took notice of the incident and constituted a committee to probe into the matter, comprising of SSP Investigation Bilal Umar, SP Madina Town Jameel Jafar and SP Lyallpur Town Owais Ahmad. The team has been directed them to submit a report within 24 hours.