LARKANA: A fact-finding committee of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Qambar-Shahdadkot core group, said on Wednesday that the police raid on a house in Lalurounk town on May 26 was carried out in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

A 60-year-old woman, Lasham Khatoon, and her son, Chakar Solangi, were shot dead and her other son, Manzoor Solangi, was wounded during the raid, which according to the police was carried out to arrest some armed suspects hiding inside. The police had claimed that the raiding team was attacked with firearms by the suspects and in the ensuing gun-battle, the two inmates were killed.

The three-member fact-finding committee on Monday visited Lalurounk town and collected evidence.

Head of the HRCP committee Murad Pandrani, referring to the findings told Dawn on Wednesday said that police had carried out an unlawful raid and killed the two persons who were not involved in the May 26 storming of the Wagan police station.

It is worth-mentioning here that about 250 Solangi clansmen riding two tractor-trolleys had stormed the police station after hearing a rumour that a man related to them was picked up and being tortured at the police station. The police clashed with the attackers during which the SHO sustained fatal wounds while a passer-by, said to be a social worker, also received gunshot wounds and died. Many other policemen and Solangi tribesmen were wounded in the clash.

A hunt for the attackers was launched in the nearby towns and villages after 245 people were booked for the attack on the police station.The raid in Lalurounk town was also part of the police operation to arrest the attackers.

Mr Pandrani said it was the responsibility of the state to protect the life and honour of citizens.

He said the committee met close relatives of the deceased woman including Muhib Ali Solangi and Mohammed Khan Solangi and found that they had no links with the attackers though they belonged to the same clan.

Mr Pandrani said the committee interviewed many other people to collect facts. It also visited the Lalurounk police station but the SHO was away and the personnel on duty appeared not ready to say anything on record, he said.

The WHC admitted that we (Lalurounk police station) were not informed about conducting raid by the Wagan police where in two persons were killed and one injured. The WHC declined to give any more information, he said.

The HRCP team recommended inclusion of more honest police officers in the investigation committee constituted by the Larkana DIG to ensure restoration of justice to the bereaved family. If the family was not satisfied with the probe, a judicial inquiry be held, it said.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2014