MULTAN, Dec 9: The Shujabad police kept the family of a villager waiting for over two weeks and did not register a case against his rivals who allegedly unleashed dogs on him and also subjected him to severe torture over a land dispute.

Muhammad Hanif succumbed to his injuries at Nishtar Hospital on Saturday night and it was only then that the police registered a murder case against four accused. Hanif’s brother Muhammad Sadiq, a resident of Wasti Darman Mauza Saun, told this correspondent his brother-in-law, Ismail, got 1.5 acres of land on contract from Azam Khan.

Sadiq said the land was earlier being looked after by Allah Bakhsh – the father-in-law of Azam Khan – who was not happy over the deal. He said on the night of Nov 23 when his brother was returning home, Allah Bakhsh and his son Muhammad Asif intercepted his brother and took him to their house where they severely tortured him and later unleashed dogs on him.

He said as soon as he got information, he called the police several times but they paid no heed.

In the meantime, a political figure of the area reached the spot and not only called the police but also rescued his brother with the help of locals. He said Asif had fled by then but Allah Bakhsh was handed over to the police and an application was submitted for lodging an FIR against them, while his brother was admitted to the Shujabad Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Sadiq said he visited the police station everyday to inquire about lodging of the case but the officers misbehaved with him.

He said on Nov 27 the accused succeeded in getting Allah Baksh released and a medical report in their favour through police support. An FIR was instead lodged against Hanif and his family on Nov 29. He said he requested the police to issue a docket for Hanif’s report but they refused.

He said he asked the hospital officials for the medical report, but got it only after paying Rs10,000 to the health officials. He further said he submitted the report to the police but they again refused to entertain them.

Sadiq said his brother’s condition deteriorated because of torture and dog bites and the hospital administration shifted him to Nishtar Hospital on Saturday where his brother died. Doctors told them poison had spread in the entire body.

The Shujabad police lodged an FIR on Sunday under Section 302/34 against four accused, including two nominated Allah Bakhsh and Muhammad Asif, and the police were conducting raids to arrest them.

Meanwhile, City Police Officer Amir Zulfiqar has suspended the acting station house officer, Akhtarul Islam.