Plot issue: brother of deceased points finger at police high-ups
By Shamsul Islam Naz
FAISALABAD, June 30: The Rs100 million plot issue took a twist on Thursday when deceased Karam Elahi’s brother filed an application with an additional district and sessions judge for ordering registration of a murder case against senior police officials and three known yarn merchants. Karam Elahi was shot dead in what, police said, an encounter over possession of a disputed plot on the Canal Road in Saddar police station area a fortnight ago.
His brother, Sardar Muhammad, alleged that armed traders — Rizwan Riaz, Riaz Sehgal and Shaukat Aftab — along with scores of police commandoes, headed by senior police officials, rushed to the Canal Road and threatened him, his brother Karam and others sitting in the plot owned by traders Khalid Masood Bhola and Tariq Mahmood.
He also alleged that Rizwan and some policemen opened fire on them without any provocation due to which Karam suffered injuries and died in hospital.
The complainant also nominated Faisalabad Range DIG Sajjad Ahmad, DPO Muhammad Amin Wains, SP (Investigation) Abdullah Khalid, ASP City (Investigation) Sheikh Naeem, DSP (Headquarters) Mumtaz Ahmad Dev and 30 other policemen in the case.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Shafqatullah has issued a notice to the Saddar police station SHO for responding to the accusation.
A fortnight ago, a police team raided a residential plot on the Canal Road on the plea that some armed people had illegally occupied it. During an exchange of fire, an Elite Force constable and two of the suspects were injured. Karam Elahi, one of the inmates, later died in hospital.
Subsequently, the police had registered a case against 23 people, including yarn dealers — Sheik Riaz Ahmad alias Bhola Basiwala and Khalid Masood alias Bhola. Three police inspectors Malik Tariq, Waheed Shahid and Ijaz Husain were also nominated in the case.
The police also arrested 19 people, inspector Ijaz Husain among them, and sent them behind bars.
SUSPENDED: DIG Sajjad Ahmad on Thursday suspended two policemen, including the Jhang Bazaar police station SHO, from service for breach of duty.
According to reports, robbers took away yarn worth over Rs1 million from a godown near the Jhang Bazaar police station on Wednesday night.
The victim party complained that the Rescue-15 police and area police team reached the spot after several hours.
The DIG suspended SHO Asif Raheem and investigation wing sub-inspector Allah Rakha from service. He also ordered an inquiry against the Rescue-15 officials.