LAHORE: Eight personnel of the Pakistan Railways police were arrested on Wednesday on the charge of beating a passenger of Mehr Express to death during a brawl inside the train.

Following the incident, on the directions of railway minister Khwaja Saad Rafique, Inspector-General of PR Police Munir Ahmad Chishti ordered a probe into the matter and constituted a team under the supervision of DIG Shariq Jamal Khan to submit a report at the earliest, said a spokesman.

Eight PR police personnel boarded Rawalpindi-bound Mehr Express at Pai Khel station. They reportedly asked a passenger to vacate his seat for them. Later, identified as Saleem of Islamabad, the passenger refused to oblige the policemen.

This infuriated the policemen who attacked the passenger, severely beating him with fists and kicks.He was rescued by some fellow passengers.

According to PR police spokesman, following the brawl, Saleem decided to take a nap, requesting other passengers to wake him up at Fateh Jang station. However, when the passengers tried to wake him up as per his request, Saleem was motionless. On detailed examination, he was found dead.

The IG took strict notice of the incident and directed the Rawalpindi SP railways police to get the suspects arrested.

Accordingly, the suspects were arrested after lodging of an FIR (No 80) under section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against them, a PR police source said, adding the FIR had been sealed.

On the report of Naseem Akhtar, the brother of Saleem, a case has been registered against Sub-Inspector Abdul Latif, Head Constable Liaquat Ali and constables Wasim Abbas, Muhammad Rafique, Abdul Rasheed, Ameer Hamza, Nasir Masih and Ameer Umar, said the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2014