BAHAWALPUR: A 14-year-old boy was allegedly tortured to death on Saturday over goat theft at Uch Sharif, about 70 km from here.

Family of deceased Muhammad Amir alleged that he was tortured to death for stealing a goat. The family lodged a protest and blocked traffic as police allegedly refused to register a case against suspects, including owner [of goat].

According to PRO Jam Sajid of DPO, as the boy was found dead under mysterious circumstances, the Uch Sharif police just registered a death report under section 174 of Cr.PC. He said murder case would be registered after the receipt of postmortem examination report.

After the autopsy report when police didn’t register a murder case, the deceased’s family members protested by placing his body on the road. The strong protest forced the Uch Sharif police to register an FIR under section 302 of PPC against three nominated people Mushtaq Ahmed, Fayyaz and Gada Hussain for allegedly murdering Amir.

According to PRO, complainant Muhammad Iqbal, a cousin of deceased Aamir, had nominated three men in the FIR. He said none of them was arrested [so far].

DNA TESTS: The Ahmedpur Sharqia assistant commissioner on Saturday handed over 19 bodies to the heirs after receipt of second consignment of 19 DNA test results.

AC Mahar Abdul Rauf told Dawn that so far 53 DNA results [of charred bodies] were received.

Regarding the exhumation process of the identified/handed over bodies, he said the court would decide on a case-to-case basis on the applications of their families.

Meanwhile, District Accounts Officer (DAO) Farhan Ahmed Hamdani said another 24 cheques amounting to Rs2 million each were cleared for collection of payment from respective banks.

He said for the approval of cheques and completion of formalities, a cell comprising senior officials had been set up in the district accounts office to expedite the payment process.

According to focal person Dr Aamir Bokhari of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, with two more injured expired, the [death] toll in the oil tanker episode rose to 221.

According to him, Moaz (19) and Amir (40) had been shifted from Nishtar Hospital, Multan to BVH where 10 people are under treatment at present.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2017