HYDERABAD: Relatives and family members of a suspect, who was shot at and injured in an allegedly staged encounter, held a demonstration outside local press club against Bhitai Nagar police here on Monday.

The protest was led by family members of Saleem Jamali, a labourer, who suffered injuries in the encounter, and Jamali clansmen carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against police and the ‘staged encounter’.

The protesters first tried to enter Shahbaz Building and hold demonstration before the office of DIG Hyderabad range but policemen posted at the building’s gate did not let them enter the premises.

Hence, they staged protest outside the Shahbaz Building and later reached the press club where they held a sit-in and then gathered outside SSP office.

Aini Mastoi, wife of Saleem Jamali, told journalists during the protest that her husband was picked up by Bhitai Nagar police from their house near Hur Camp and just 30 minutes later she was told that her husband had suffered bullet injuries in an encounter with police.

She said that police had physically disabled her husband who was the only bread earner of the family.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2021