VEHARI, May 27: Four officials of the Machiwal police station were suspended from service on Friday for allegedly torturing a youth to death. Vehari DPO Mukhtar Tikka has taken the decision against the policemen after the death of one Sajid Ali in custody on Wednesday. Those penalized are SHO Rana Tanveer, constable Haq Nawaz, Imam Ali and Bagh Ali.

On the orders of the DPO, the Machiwal police registered a case against the four policemen and their three accomplices — Haroon, Irshad and Tariq — who are residents of Chak 557/EB. However, no arrest was made till the filing of this report.

Reports said a medical board, comprising DHQ hospital medical superintendent Dr Nasir Dilshad, District Health Officer Dr Ghazanfar Abbas and Medical Officer Dr Abdullah Azeem collected samples from the body of the deceased and sent them to Lahore for a chemical examination. A report is expected within the next few days.

However, according to the postmortem report, marks of torture were found on chest, shoulder and foot. The report also declared that the youth had died about 12 hours before reaching hospital.

Meanwhile, Sajid’s family has demanded registration of cases against police officials who had allegedly tortured him to death. — Correspondent