GUJRAT: An alleged drug addict was found dead in police custody under mysterious circumstances. His family blamed police for torturing him to death in the Daulat Nagar Police Station.

The district police officer (DPO) ordered an inquiry into the matter, while family members placed the body of the deceased on Bhimbher Road and staged a protest demonstration.

Police claimed to have arrested Mudassar Iqbal on Friday and seized hashish from him. A case was registered against him under Section 9b of the PPC. They claimed Iqbal’s condition suddenly deteriorated in the lock-up and he died before being shifted to hospital. However, his family alleged Iqbal had died of severe torture by police officials.

DPO Rai Ijaz Ahmed said he appointed Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Riaz Ahmed as inquiry officer and an autopsy had also been ordered. If torture was proved in the autopsy report the officials concerned would be booked and sent behind bars, he added.

He said he could not confirm the cause of death until findings of the inquiry and autopsy report. Police officials claimed Iqbal could have died of a heart attack or some other reason since he was a drug addict. The DPO said initial statements of Iqbal’s family and police officials concerned had been recorded by the SP.

MURDER: A woman was allegedly gunned down by her brother in an ‘honour killing’ in Bagrianwala village on Saturday.

Two years ago, 21-year-old Maryam had got married to a man of her choice without her family’s consent and eloped with him. Her husband abandoned her a few days ago, went to Muscat and sent her a divorce from there.

Maryam returned to her parents’ house and sought an apology from her father, Ishtiaq. However, her brother Abdul Quddus shot her in the head in the name of ‘honour killing’.

Police arrested the suspect and registered a case against him on the complaint of Ishtiaq.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2014