HARIPUR, July 27: Four police personnel were suspended for allegedly assaulting a journalist, his brother and their two servants here on Monday. The suspended officials included the SHO of the city police station and three policemen.

A heroin addict Nasim alias Cheema had allegedly assaulted Wasim Azar Turabi, general secretary of the local press club, here on Sunday evening. The accused was overpowered and handed over to the police along with a pistol he was carrying. Mr Turabi alleged that the policemen had set him free without registering a case.

According to Wasim, when tried to lodge a complaint with the SHO city Malik Zia he refused to register the case and instead insulted him and later raided his office with heavy contingent and thrashed him, his brother Dr Hassnain Raza Turabi, two of his servants namely Khurram and Babar Sharif.

The latter was reportedly hospitalized after sustaining injuries to his stomach and kidneys. The district police officer Haripur, Abdullah Khan, placed the SHO city, Zia, constables Qaisar Javed, Mehfooz and Zahoor Shah under suspension on complaint of newsmen and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Later, an emergency meeting of the members of the Haripur Press Club was held with Khanzada Amjad in the chair. The meeting condemned police action against the journalist and his brother and demanded registration of an FIR against the SHO. They also announced to boycott police events unless their demand was met.