HYDERABAD: The wailing family members of a youth took his body to the local press club on Saturday to register their protest over alleged police torture leading to his death.

They said, Danish Shaikh, in his 30s, was a TB patient and daily wage earner. He was picked up by the Phulelli police on Oct 13 in lieu of his brother, Danial, an absconding suspect of petty crimes. Danish was later handed over to the Bhitai Nagar police and released two days later.

“Police torture aggravated his illness and he died this (Saturday) morning after having been let off,” alleged the bereaved family.

They said Danish was released on Oct 15 and since then his condition remained unstable as he was a tuberculosis patient.

The family resides in Jurial Shah Colony in Tando Mir Mahmood area within the jurisdiction of the Phulelli police station. He used to run his pushcart to deal in scraps. “Danish was a TB patient. After being released, he told us he was beaten up by the policemen who were drunk,” said his maternal cousin, Naeem Shaikh, while speaking to journalists. He quoted Danish as telling his family that he was taken to some desolated place in the Jamshoro area where he was subjected to torture.

Naeem said he had filed an application before the Hyderabad DIG on behalf of Danish.

“Danish told us that he kept telling police he is sick and should not be beaten up but police didn’t spare him. His condition aggravated ever-since he was let-off,” said Naeem. Danish’s mother Ms Anwari and his sister Seema kept wailing beside his body, placed on the main road outside the press club.

The heirs had approached widely respected figure of Talpur family, Mir Rafiq Ahmed Talpur, who lived within their neighbourhood for help. “Danish’s heirs had approached me after he was picked up in lieu of Danial, who is absconding. The family lives behind my house,” Mr Talpur told Dawn.

Ms Anwari told journalists during the protest that her son had Rs1,500 in his pocket when police picked him up. “Police intruded our house on Oct 13 and harassed us,” she said, adding that her family arranged Rs45,000 to have him released. “Part of Rs45,000 was arranged by my daughter and partly it was our saving which was given to police,” she said.

Naeem Shaikh named one ‘Mama’ of the Phulelli police, who allegedly received Rs45,000 for Danish’s release. “We paid money to Mama and he got Danish released. “Besides Danish, three other suspects, Abid Sheikh, Shaharyar and Nomi, were picked up and they too told police that Danish should be spared as he was sick but police didn’t listen, said Naeem.

“Danish vomited blood when we took him to Hyderabad SSP’s office,” he said.

Police version

SSP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh said that the family’s claim was totally false. “Danish had never been picked up … he was already sick and there are medical reports about his health. He was wanted by police but not arrested over the last four-five months, since I took over charge,” said the SSP. He said the family could get a post-mortem examination done.

He claimed that the family was levelling accusations against police to counter police action against Danial, who was also involved in motorbike and mobile snatching.

The SSP said he had formed an inquiry team headed by SP Headquarters Anil Hyder with DSP Baldia, ASP Cantonment and in-charge CIA being its other members.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2022