SUKKUR: The Sukkur police have strongly reacted to a campaign by certain nationalist groups, social media users and other elements over the recent “encounter” in which a Sindh University student, Irfan Jatoi, was killed.

They have described Irfan Jatoi [belonging to Kharoos caste] as a “notorious criminal”, saying that he was wanted by police in 26 cases of kidnapping for ransom, murder and other criminal activities.

The reaction from the Sukkur police came amid a series of protests held in different parts of the province by nationalist groups. In a recent event, leaders and activists belonging to the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz, Sindh Youth Action Committee and an organisation working for religious tolerance, Rawadari Tehreek, took out a big rally in Sukkur to condemn what they believed to be the “extrajudicial killing” of the SU student.

They claimed that Irfan Jatoi was picked up by police from his SU hostel room and taken away to an undisclosed spot where he was shot dead in custody. The protesters held a demonstration outside the office of the Sukkur additional IG and demanded removal of SSP Irfan Sammo. They demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged murder.

The Sukkur police would use all legal measures and agencies including FIA’s cybercrime cell against the social media propaganda, said a spokesman through a press release issued here on Tuesday.

The police force would continue to perform its duties within its prescribed legal domain, the spokesman asserted.

Now that Jatoi has been killed in an encounter with police, some organised groups have conspired to malign the Sindh police and SSP Irfan Sammo, according to the press release. It noted that the social media was being used for the propaganda and even dubbed audio was being aired. “We outright reject all these digressing acts perpetrated for ulterior motives,” the spokesman said.

The Sukkur police claimed that the encounter had taken place within the limits of the Jhangro police.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2021