KARACHI, Dec 24: A murder case was on Friday registered against three policemen for torturing a suspect and causing his death, police said.

They said that the case (FIR 534/2010) was registered at the Steel Town police station under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code against Sub-Inspector Nazar Muhammad, Assistant Sub-Inspector Naik Muhammad Lashari and Constable Noor Ahmed Abro on the complaint of the victim's elder brother, Adam Khan.

“All the three officials are associated with the investigation section,” said Steel Town SHO Inspector Hazoor Bux Solangi. “They have been accused of torture on the suspect, Jam Gopang, who was brought to the police station on charges of street crime but was released after initial questioning.”

He said that the post-mortem examination of the victim was conducted under Section 176 (inquiry by magistrate into cause of death) of the criminal procedure code.

“Samples of the body for a chemical examination have also been collected and sent to the laboratory,” he said. “We are very confident that torture will not be the cause of death, as no suspect is tortured during interrogation.”

He said the suspect was detained on information provided by some youngsters, who had already been booked and arrested for their alleged involvement in street crime.

However, the victim was quizzed and later released after some hours. He was a declared cardiac patient and suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after the police formalities, the area SHO added.

The suspect died in suspicious circumstances in the custody of the Steel Town police on Thursday night.

Though the police denied torture, the victim's family alleged that investigators had tortured him due to which he was almost paralysed and suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.

A number of people, including the victim's family members and neighbours, protested outside the police station after his death that forced senior officers to intervene.

The victim, who was in his mid-twenties, was a resident of Murid Goth, Pipri, in Bin Qasim Town.

A senior investigation officer said that the FIR would lead to a thorough probe into the incident and would hold the officials responsible if found involved in the suspect's death.

“No arrest has been made yet,” he said. “Before moving forward we need to look into the details of the medical reports. The FIR was lodged to satisfy the family members of the deceased, who had expressed doubts over our intentions.”

He said the suspect died hours after his release and the police were not aware of his condition.

He maintained that any officials nominated in the FIR had not escaped.

It was the second case of custodial death reported in the city during the last one week.

On Dec 17, another suspect, 24-year-old Imran, was found dead in the Risala police lock-up.

The custodial death had forced the authorities to suspend four policemen, including the Risala SHO.