BAHAWALPUR: Uch Sharif police on Sunday arrested three members of two families for allegedly torturing their two children who were allegedly involved in a cotton theft incident at Mauza Rehmat Shah, Kote Sheikhan, about 70 kilometres from here.

On Saturday, police said, boys Abu Bakr and Dilshad were beaten up by Abu Bakr’s father Nazir Ahmad, brother Ismail, Dilshad’s uncle Shair Muhammad and three others namely Jamshad, Rab Nawaz and Muhammad Sadiq.

According to Jam Sajid, PRO to DPO, the boys allegedly stole about five kilogram cotton from the field of Zawar Hussain, who complained to suspects’ parents.

Later, a punchayat was held where Abu Bakr’s father and brother decided to punish the ‘thieves’ on their own.

The PRO said the boys’ family members along with 14 others inflicted severe torture on Abu Bakr and Dilshad in the village street in the presence of the people.

The PRO said no one filed a complaint to police which took action after a video of the incident was uploaded on the social media.

He said on the complaint of SI Haq Nawaz, police registered a case against 20 people. He said the six nominated suspects were arrested while 14 unidentified, including members of the punchayat, would be held shortly.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2017