ISLAMABAD: The police have initiated an inquiry into alleged abduction and police brutality by Islamabad police personnel after a video of police officials dragging a man on the road was circulated on social media.

A superintendent of police (SP) has begun the inquiry on orders from senior officers, the police said.

Two separate applications were submitted to the Aabpara police station and the Kohsar subdivision on Nov 16 against the police personnel involved, but no action was taken against them until the videos went viral.

In the videos, police officials can be seen arresting a man, dragging him on the road and then bundling him into a private vehicle.

Senior police officers ordered an inquiry two days after the incident occurred, and asked SP Sadar Omar Khan to investigate the matter.

According to the complaints lodged with the police, the man in the video – identified as Jhandad Khan – was abducted and physically assaulted by Ramna police on Nov 16. The Ramna police registered a case against him on various charges the same day.

Mr Khan lodged a complaint with the Kohsar subdivision seeking legal action against Ramna police officials. In his application, he said that a police team raided his home in F-6/4 and a lady constable entered his residence and asked him about a man named Sohail.

He said the police team overpowered him when he left his house, handcuffed him, physically assaulted him and took him to the Ramna police station in a vehicle.

The application said he was released from police custody after his uncle came to the station and met with the station house officer.

He said he was taken to a hospital for treatment for injuries to his arms and legs.

One his cousins, Aftab Khan, lodged a complaint with the Aabpara police in which he said that he was with Mr Khan at Polyclinic for Mr Khan’s treatment.

A police team dragged Mr Khan outside while he was being treated at the emergency ward, put him in a car and drove off. He told Dawn Mr Khan has now returned home.

The FIR registered against Jhandad Khan at the Kohsar subdivision said the Ramna police raided his home in F-6/4 to arrest him in connection with the abduction of a man from G-11/2 on Oct 24.

The police overpowered Mr Khan when he answered the door, it said.

The FIR alleged that three people set him free from police custody because he shouted for help, and he then attacked the police.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2019