LAHORE: The Muslim Town police registered a criminal case on Monday against more than 20 armed men for allegedly thrashing and kidnapping a student of the Punjab University.

Police nominated six of the suspects, said to be students of the university’s New Campus, in the first information report (FIR) registered under Section 365 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Police acted when they were alerted that a group of over 20 armed men had entered the university hostel and kidnapped Abubakar. The suspects were said to be activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba.

Witnesses told police that the suspects first beat up Abubakar and then took him away to an undisclosed place. After reaching the varsity premises, police collected the CCTV footage and lodged a case on the application of Abubakar’s friend and fellow student, Zikriya Niazi.

A Punjab University spokesperson said in a statement that the administration has referred the matter to the disciplinary committee for action against the students involved in the kidnap case. Further action will be taken on the basis of the committee’s findings, he said, adding that a criminal case has also been registered against the suspects.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2019