ISLAMABAD: Three subordinate police officials were booked over death of a man in custody, Dawn has learnt.

The man died in police custody on Friday, however, a case in this regard was registered after three days.

Sources in police said the man was picked up by Shalimar police earlier this month for interrogation but his condition deteriorated on Friday night, adding, he passed away while being shifted to a private hospital.

The autopsy revealed that there were marks of injury on the deceased’s body and head.

A case was registered against the deceased after his death, over recovery of an illegal weapon at Shalimar Police station; the first information report (FIR) stated he was arrested from F-11 and a pistol was recovered from his possession.

It said that an ASI and two constables brought the man dead to Pims; during interrogation, he confessed to being involved in a robbery on Oct 9.

As he was being taken to the scene of the robbery by investigating officers, it said, he jumped out of the moving vehicle near F-10/3 attempting to escape, but suffered multiple injuries and fainted.

According to sources in the police’s public relations department, on Saturday (Nov 7) a back-dated order (Friday, Nov 6) was issued from the office of the inspector general of police by directing constitution of an inquiry committee to probe the matter.

As per the order, the committee including DIG operations as chairman, SSP CTD, SP investigation and SP rural will investigate the matter and submit a report for perusal of the IGP within one week.

Two days later, station house officer at Shalimar Police station was suspended and a case was registered against the three officials under PPC 319.

When contacted, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operation) Waqaruddin Syed said he made a written request for a judicial inquiry into the matter.

Superintendent of Police Zubair Ahmed Shaikh said the man had been wanted by Sahiwal’s Ghalla Mandi Police station in connection with 11 robberies, adding, he was also wanted by the capital police in connection with five robberies.

The deceased was handed over to his family for burial after autopsy, he said, adding, suspicious content was also recovered from his mobile phone.

Two of the officials booked in the case have been arrested, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2020