Case against four cops for death in custody

BAHAWALNAGAR: Police registered a case on Thursday against eight people, including four policemen, for the death of a man in Chishtian police custody.

Police said Chishtian City Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Rana Asim Raza with other people raided the house of Akmal Shahzad, 40, of Chak 105-F, in private vehicles on Wednesday.

According to Kashif, kin of Akmal, when police tried to get him on the vehicle, Akmal resisted them. ASI Asim tortured him and bundled him into the vehicle.

Two residents — Nabi Ahmed and Haji Irfan — witnessed that police later threw Akmal out of the van near 105/F. Both residents asked police not to leave Akmal on road, who was badly injured. On the insistence of both villagers, police shifted Akmal to the Chishtian Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. Later, police informed Akmal’s family about his death late on Wednesday.

Akmal’s family demonstrated against police on Thursday. The Chishtian deputy superintendent of police convinced the family to disperse.

After the talks, the Saddar police registered a case against ASI Asim, constables Zaheer, Amir and Siddique, Mujahid and four unidentified people.

The Chishtian City police also registered a case against the ASI.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015