06 June 2004	Sunday	17 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

HARIPUR, June 5: A case was registered against three policemen of Khanpur police station for causing grievous injury to an under-interrogation accused. The man had later died in the police lock-up in March this year.

It was learnt that the Khanpur police had picked up one Nazakat Hussain of Dhok Gakhran village in March 2004 on the suspicion of being involved in setting ablaze the building of the Pind Gakhran Government Middle School. A case was registered against him under section 322 Pakistan Penal Code.

It was learnt that during the course of interrogation, the policemen had tortured him to such an extent that he had died in the lock up but Khanpur police had labelled his death to be a suicide.

The next day, in-charge of the police station Mursalin Khan had issued a statement to the press saying that Mr Nazakat had committed suicide by hanging himself from the ventilator of the police lock-up.

The DPO had later suspended the in-charge, two Muharars and a sentry of the police station after the victim's relatives and the local people had protested against police brutality.

A judicial inquiry was instituted to probe into the incident. It was conducted by Judicial Magistrate Asif Khan.

Police sources said the inquiry had found all the three police officials, namely Khawaj Mohamamd (head constable working as Moharar), Sabir Zaman (assistant moharar) and constable Mohammad Hanif, guilty.

On the recommendation of district and session judge Haripur Sahibzada Mohamamd Khurshid, the Khanpur police registered cases against the accused under sections 322, 155, 156 PPC, and Police Order 2002. It could not be immediately ascertained if the then in-charge of the Khanpur police station, Mursalin, had been charged in the case or not.

A report compiled by the District Public Safety Commission had also declared the death to be custodial killing, recommending action against the investigating officer and others.