BAHAWALNAGAR: A man was killed and his wife injured seriously on Sunday in 110/6R in the Faqirwali area allegedly after his employer along with some accomplices tortured them for quitting their job.

According to Faqirwali Station House Officer (SHO) Pervaiz Akhtar Jatoi, labourer Ghulam Rasool and his wife Mumtaz Bibi worked for a local landlord, Usman, for a meagre salary and had taken a few thousand rupees in advance from him. A few days ago, Rasool had demanded a raise and on refusal, he and his wife quit the job and started working elsewhere The SHO said Usman demanded Rasool and his wife return to his workplace and on refusal, started demanding the advance back.

Jatoi said Rasool sought some time, but Usman refused and the other day attacked the couple along with a group armed with sticks and axes. Rasool’s brother-in-law Altaf tried to intervene, but was also tortured. The assailants fled from the scene after leaving all three seriously injured, the SHO added.

Neighbours shifted the injured to the Haroonabad THQ Hospital from where Rasool was referred to Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur. However, he died on the way.

According to police, a first information report was registered against five people, including Usman, on charges of attempted murder. Police said that it had started investigating the matter and search for the suspects was ongoing.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2019