MANSEHRA: A person arrested on charges of depriving a Malaysian tourist family of cash and valuables recently has committed suicide in the district jail, Mansehra.

“The inmate committed suicide inside a barrack’s washroom by hanging himself with ventilator,” jail’s assistant superintendent Abdul Bari told reporters on Saturday.

The body was handed over to family after completing medico-legal formalities at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital.

Abdul Malik, 40, was arrested by Mansehra police along with members of an inter-provincial gang of robbers, last month.

“The Punjab police had obtained custody of his other gang members, and he may have committed suicide fearing his arrest as well,” Mr Bari said.

District police officer Zaibullah Khan told reporters that gang was involved in robberies across the country. He said the robbers’ gang had deprived a Malaysian tourist family of local and foreign currency, gold and valuables at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Miskeen, a relative of the deceased, has sought an inquiry into his death, saying he could not commit suicide.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2019