CHINIOT: A police constable was suspended from service here on Monday after he allegedly thrashed a polio team at Tarkhanawala, Barana Union Council, in Lalian tehsil.

A polio team, comprising Ghulam Mustafa and Muhammad Ashraf, was camped at Tarkhanawala, a transit point for administering anti-polio drops to children passing through this entry and exit point of the district.

A constable, Muhammad Sabtain, who was posted at Muhammadwala police station, approached the camp and started hurling abuses at the team members. He allegedly slapped them in the face, accusing them of neglecting their duties. This act of violence sparked outrage among other polio teams and health department officers, prompting them to contact police authorities for action.

Barana UC Monitoring Officer Abid Ijaz made an appeal to the administration in a social media video for action against the police official.

Chiniot District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Tariq Sohail confirmed the regrettable incident and said legal action is being pursued against the policeman.

The Chiniot district police officer said constable Muhammad Sabtain has been suspended from service. He said police always stand in support of polio workers and have a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of violence.

COURSES: The E-rozgar centre has introduced new courses to make youth self-employed.

Chiniot E-rozgar centre incharge Samar Abbas told the media that the centre has started three-month courses on digital skills and freelancing free of cost for the educated youth of the district.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2024