VEHARI: Five policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), and two sons of a local landlord were arrested on Sunday on charge of torturing a woman in Luddan police area, some 30km from here. Thirteen police officials were suspended from service for being involved in the case.

The action was taken by Multan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Waseem Ahmed against the police officials after Chief Minister Usman Buzar took notice of the incident. The CM on Sunday had also directed the RPO to submit his report after a probe into the incident within 48 hours. He had also issued directions for initiating legal and departmental action against the guilty police officers.

On Sept 4, Ayaz Daultana had registered a case against unidentified persons with the Luddan police, saying 160 tola gold ornaments worth over Rs10m had been stolen from his house. Zahoor Bibi, 50, had working as a sweeper at the residence of Ayaz and he suspected that she was involved in the theft. On Saturday, Luddan police took Bibi to the outhouse of Ayaz where the policemen as well as employees of the complainant allegedly tortured her severely. When Bibi fell unconscious, the police left her at her house.

13 police officials suspended from service

The issue of torture was highlighted on the social media and District Police Officer (DPO) Saqib Sultan and RPO Waseem reached the residence of Bibi late night at Luddan. She told the RPO and DPO details of her torture.

RPO Waseem held an initial inquiry into this incident and suspended 13 police officials, including DSP Rao Tariq, SHO Arif Shah, ASI Younas, in-charge of CIA Branch ASI Amjad Khan, SI Tahir Chohan, IT in-charge Azeem, Lady Constable Shakila and constables who could not be identified. A case was registered against these policemen as well as Ayaz Daultana and his sons.

Of them DSP Rao Tariq, SHO Arif Shah, in-charge of CIA Branch ASI Amjad Khan, IT in-charge Azeem and Constable Shaukat Ali were arrested along with sons of Ayza Daultana, Zarwan and Haroon, and their servant Fiaz. The other suspects managed to escape.

According to DPO Saqib Sultan, the police registered the case against the suspects under various sections of the PPC.

SP Investigations Kausar Parveen would hold the inquiry into this incident. She said Zahoor Bibi was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Hospital for treatment and a medical report would decide the status of the case.

On the other hand, DHQ hospital MS Dr Fazal told Dawn the initial medical report confirmed that Bibi was tortured severely. Her sensitive parts of her body were affected due to torture, especially her back side, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2019