FAISALABAD, Nov 18: Police ‘pressurised’ parents of a boy killed in an encounter to stop them from pursuing the case but could not get result of the judicial inquiry in their favour ‘despite bringing about a compromise with the aggrieved party.’

The judicial inquiry proved that the encounter was fake and the deceased was hit at a point-blank range.

Chak Jhumra police had gunned down Tajamal alias Tanoo in Chak 187-RB on March 7 last. Police said they signalled four people to stop but they did not do so and opened fire which was retaliated.

Police said during the crossfire that continued for more than 20 minutes Tanoo was killed.

Sessions Judge Rasheed Qamar had appointed judicial magistrate Mumtaz Ahmed as inquiry officer to probe the encounter. The judge concluded the inquiry on Nov 14.

Family of Tajamal, including his mother Haleema Bibi, father Mukhtar and others belonging to the locality appeared before the magistrate and rejected the police version. However, parents again appeared and submitted their affidavits regarding a compromise with the police.

Ignoring the compromise, the magistrate continued the inquiry and summoned the accused policemen.

The judge questioning the police version mentioned that it was strange to note that during cross firing neither any policeman was injured nor bullet hit any vehicle.

Quoting district surgeon Dr Shaukat Iqbal who also appeared before the court, the judge said and testified that Tajamal had “stellate shaped entry wound (contact fire) measuring 5cmx5cm in front of centre of forehead.”

“In my view, the bullet which hit the deceased was fired from very close distance,” the judge noted.

He mentioned that the deceased was either killed by the police, headed by inspector Mazharul Haq, or he was murdered somewhere else and his body was delivered to him (Haq).

“Had the police encounter been genuine, the parents of deceased Tanoo should not have made compromise with the police party while they had got recorded their statements alleging their son was killed by police in a fake encounter.”

He said submission of affidavits by the parents of Tajamal in favour of the police smacked of pressure and coercion exercised by the police on parents of the deceased.

The judge clearly mentioned that encounter was fake and recommended criminal action.

Sources said the police had given Rs1 million to the family for reconciliation.

After the encounter police took father and brother of the victim into custody and asked family to refrain from going against the police otherwise they would face consequences. After the encounter, dozens of villagers approached the police, however, the police bosses did nothing.

Sources said before the judicial probe, the police had conducted a one-day inquiry into the killing of Tanoo to pacify the family and declared the encounter genuine ignoring the facts that temple of the boy was hit at a point-blank range.

However, the parents had rejected the police inquiry.