NAROWAL: An elderly man died in police custody on Sunday after which a murder case was registered against the station house officer (SHO) and investigating officer of the police station concerned.

Muhammad Hassan, 65, a retired school teacher from Kotli Lalwan village on the outskirts of Shakargarh tehsil, was in the custody of Naina Kot police station. Tariq Hussain, a fellow villager, had lodged a complaint at the police station that a resident of Shakargarh city attempted to rape his son in the drawing room of Hassan, who sat outside.

Hassan and the suspected abuser were arrested and a case registered against them. Naina Kot SHO Shahbaz Ahmed and investigation officer Assistant Sub-Inspector Iftikhar Ahmed were interrogating the arrested men when Hassan collapsed among the police constables.

He was rushed to Shakargarh THQ Hospital due to his critical condition but died on the way. His family and local residents protested against the police and demanded investigation into the death of a senior citizen in custody.

Hassan’s family members said he was a retired school teacher who also had a heart operation a few years ago.

District Police Officer Hafiz Wahid Mahmood took notice of the death. A murder case was registered against the SHO and the investigating officer under sections 302 and 34TP on the report of Shakargarh President Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police Rana Nadeem Yaseen. No arrests were made till the report was filed.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2020