LAHORE: In what appears to be a horrific and rare crime of its kind, a blind beggar died after some deranged men allegedly pumped air into his belly, using a compressor at a tyre shop in Kahna area here on Wednesday.

The suspects, including owner of the shop, took the beggar, Iqbal (42), to the rear portion of the shop, overpowered him and pumped air into his belly, using a compressor, according to the FIR registered with Kahna police on the complaint of the victim’s father Noor Mohammad.

Because of the air pressure, Iqbal’s condition got critical and he started bleeding. As his condition deteriorated, the suspects fled the scene, the FIR said.

Iqbal was taken to hospital where he died of massive internal bleeding, it added.

A police official said a team had been dispatched to conduct raids to arrest the suspects.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2019