LAHORE: An official of the newly established anti-riot police force was booked and suspended for allegedly looting and torturing citizens at an illegal checkpost, after a victim got a first information report (FIR) registered against him at Sundar police station on Sunday.

Rana Nadeem of Sundar was on his way home from his workplace in Bahria Town late on Saturday night when he was stopped at a checkpost near Loharanwala Khooh by some policemen who first frisked him and later demanded bribe from him.

Nadeem refused to give them money at which the policemen beat him up and snatched his mobile phone and cash. They also kept Nadeem under illegal custody for around four hours. He was freed when locals gathered at the site and intervened. They also called police and handed Nadeem over to them. On Sunday, Nadeem lodged a complaint at Sundar police station against the policemen for torturing him and snatching his belongings.

During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that Adil, an official of the anti-riot police, had set up an illegal checkpost as the force was not ordered or authorised to do so. He and some policemen would stop passersby in the name of checking and loot cash and valuables.

Nadeem’s father Rana Salim told Dawn they complained against the policemen who took it as an insult and the next day followed his son to his workplace. Nadeem fled from work and came home following which Adil along with his five armed and unidentified accomplices stormed into their house. They took away Nadeem and threatened to kill him if anyone followed them. The policemen tortured him and left him at a far-off location, Salim alleged.

He said they did not want to pursue the torture of his son, but Adil had nurtured a grudge against Nadeem for complaining against him. He claimed that Adil and his family members approached them for reconciliation after which they had forgiven him.

Station House Officer Muhammad Sibtain said they had registered a case against Adil for torturing and looting citizens. He had also been suspended from service. He however said he did not know about any reconciliation between the two sides.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017