GUJRAT: A suspected thief was found hanged in the washroom of a lock-up in the Sara-i-Alamgir City police station.

Police claimed the suspect died by suicide and a judicial inquiry into the incident had been recommended by DPO Umar Salamat.

A Gujrat police spokesman said the Sara-i-Alamgir City police had brought Muhammad Boota from the district jail on physical remand on Nov 17 to investigate a theft case lodged on Nov 12 under Section 381A. The suspect was said to have a criminal record of such cases.

He claimed while inside the lock-up, Boota went to the washroom and did not return for a long time. When an official on duty went to check, he found Boota hanging from the window above through his shalwar drawstring.

He said CCTV cameras had been installed within the police station and footage collected.

Taking notice of the incident, the DPO suspended three policemen, including the investigation officer, and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

SP (Investigation) Imran Razzaq has been tasked with the inquiry.

The DPO also recommended a judicial inquiry into the case and wrote a letter to the district and sessions judge, who appointed a judicial magistrate for the purpose.

The body was shifted to a hospital where doctors conducted an autopsy and later handed it over to the heirs.

ARRESTED: Police claim to have arrested the culprits involved in the murder of a farmer of Mughlianwali village.

DPO Salamat told reporters that Shafique , 45, had gone missing from his cattle farm on Nov 1 and a kidnap case was lodged against unidentified suspects. On Nov 8, a body was found at a deserted place and a murder case lodged against unidentified people.

He said he had constituted a special team under Lalamusa circle DSP Azmat Hayat that monitored the movement of some villagers. A suspect, Sarib, was detained and interrogated during which he confessed to committing the crime.

He told police he along with his two accomplices, Irfan and Adnan, had stolen some cattle of Shafique. When he found out about the theft, they planned to kill him.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2020