Teenagers sent on remand for possessing explosives, assaulting cops

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court remanded on Wednesday two teenage boys into police custody in three separate cases of possessing illicit weapons, explosives and assaulting law enforcers.

Faizan and Kamran, both 17 years old, were brought to the ATC-II in blood-stained shalwar kameez as both were shot in the legs. The investigating officer, Najmuddin, told the judge that the boys were arrested after an encounter with the police, who found pistols and hand grenades in their possession. He sought 10-day remand of the suspects contending that they were to be interrogated about their potential involvement in other offences.

Both the boys lived in the same vicinity and were friends.

Seeing the blood on their clothes, the judge rose from her chair and asked them to show which part of their body they were shot at. The boys told her that they had bullet wounds in their calf muscles. She also asked them if they ever went to school. Faizan responded that he had studied till class eight while Kamran said he has never been to school.

The judge told the boys to sit on the benches and then asked Najmuddin if the bullets had been retrieved from the boys' legs. The officer presented a report and said that they have been given full medical care.

After the boys were sent out of the court, the judge summoned the officer and expressed her displeasure over the shots fired at the teenage boys. Before Najmuddin could speak, the judge directed him to give them the best medical care and get their bandages changed once in two days.

The suspects told The Express Tribune that they were picked up by the Rangers a long time ago from their houses in Baldia Town. They were then blindfolded and were kept somewhere for days. When they were taken out, they were shot at on the legs.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2015.