RAHIM YAR KHAN: Three women fainted when police allegedly tortured them during an attempt to vacate three acres of land in front of a newly-established housing society near Sadiq Branch canal here on Monday.

Inayat Hussain Sangi told journalists that owners of Royal City Housing Society called police when his dozens of family members were present at their land adjacent to the society.

The owners of society -- Shehzad Zia, Gulzar Dhiloon and Abdul Salam -- called a police team led by ASI Rana Asif. He said when police resorted to baton charge, Mukhtar Mai, Nusrat Bibi and Lal Khatoon fainted. They were shifted to the Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital.

Formr DBA general secretary Basharat Hundal, who is also a party to the land dispute, told media that he was present at the site when Abdul Salam, Gulzar Dhiloon, Shehzad Zia and their employees started firing on his car because they wanted possession of his land as well. The wind screen of his car was damaged but he managed to save his life.

On the other hand, society owner Shehzad Zia told this correspondent that Basharat Hundal and his accomplices had tortured society employees.

Police spokesperson Zeeshan Randhawa told Dawn that there was no incident of firing. He said the DSP City had called all the parties for mediation. However, he did not respond over alleged torture of women by police.

A DBA spokesperson said lawyers across Bahawalpur division would observe strike on Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019