Neighbourhood watch: Mob beats ‘thief’ to death

Police were called but by the time they arrived, he had died

FAISALABAD: A 30-year-old man was beaten to death by a mob after they mistook him for a thief in D-Type Colony area on Monday.

Asghar Ali, who was present at the scene, told The Express Tribune that Yaseen, a junkyard owner, had raised alarm on finding Riaz, a resident of Muhammadi Chowk, at the gate of his junkyard.

He said residents of the area had gathered at the scene on hearing that an intruder had broken in.

He said Riaz had told them that he was not a thief and had just parked his bicycle in front of the junkyard.

He said Yaseen started beating Riaz and later, others joined him. He said some people called police but by the time they arrived, Riaz had died.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the D-Type Colony SHO said Yaseen had been taken in custody,

He said during interrogation, Yaseen had told them that Riaz had stolen articles from his shop. He said he had raised the alarm but did not beat him. He said residents of the area had beaten him of their own volition.

Talking to newsmen, Irshad Ahmad, Riaz’s father said his son had sold an old bicycle to Yaseen.

“He had parked his bicycle in the junkyard and had gone in be paid when Yaseem accused him of stealing his goods. He said Yaseem had beaten his son with a stick. He said the chief minister should take notice of the incident and ensure arrest of those responsible. “My son was innocent,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2015.