Police custody leaves deep wounds on man

LAHORE: On July 30, Kot Lakhpat police picked up Rasheed, 50, of Javed Colony. After three days, when police released him saying that he was captured mistakenly, Rasheed, a roadside vendor, had a bruised, tortured, swelled body, and horrible tale about police torture.

A medical report confirmed on Monday the middle-aged man was severely tortured.

Arshad, neighbour of Rasheed, is pursuing the case on Rasheed`s behalf and moved his application against the officials. Rasheed, a father of eight young children, is inbed nursing his back injury and other wounds.

Arshad said that on their report, the chief minister took notice of the incident and ordered the suspension of three policemen. Police authorities suspended from service and arrested Assistant Sub-Inspector Gulzar, Head Constable Naeem and Constable Salman.

He alleged a Kot Lakhpat official had threatened that he would implicate Rasheed in some case again after some months if he reported the matter to the police authorities.

The medico-legal report says a 70-centimeter wide torture mark was inflicted on Rasheed`s back besides many small but profound marks, according to an official ofthe Mian Munshi Hospital. He said the medical board took six hours to completely examine Rasheed`s swollen body.

The me dical board recommende d a case against those responsible for torture under section 337-L (2) of the Pakistan Penal Code, which reads, `Whoever causes hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with daman, or with both`.

The official said the swabs had also been dispatched for forensic analysis to determine if the man was sodomised or not.

Rasheed alleges that four policemen would beat him with hard objects turn by turn from morningtill night.

Arshad said the policemen had picked up Rasheed mistakenly believing him a suspect in a case.

He said the Kot Lakhpat police first delayed medical report and now were delaying the first information report.

Deputy Inspector General Dr Haider Ashraf said they had arrested the officials involved in the incident and departmental action had also been initiated into the case.

About the sexual assault allegation, he said the policemen allegedly involved in the incident were from investigation wing and no one would be spared if found guilty in the official inquiry.

Published in: Dawn