UMERKOT: A teenage youth arrested by the Dhoronaro police station of Umerkot city in a firing case was produced in the district and sessions court on Saturday and was granted bail in one of the two FIRs registered against him.
The family and lawyer of the suspect, Allah Bachayo Mallah, told the media that he was picked up soon after a complaint about the firing incident was lodged by the Principal of the Dhoronaro College, Kamal Mustafa, against two unknown suspects four days ago. The complainant had stated that he had received a threatening letter as well.
The family alleged that Allah Bachayo had been kept in unlawful confinement for three days before he was shown arrested. They also claimed that he was physically fit and in sound health when picked up but was brought to the court in semi-unconscious condition on a wheelchair with marks of torture visible on his body.
Allah Bachayo’s parents alleged that the firing on the college premises was resorted to by unknown youths who might have been from some influential families, but the police implicated their son in two separate FIRs.
Granted bail in college firing case; hearing of arms possession FIR fixed for Monday
The court granted him bail in one case and fixed the hearing of the other FIR, pertaining to possession of firearms, for Monday (March 3).
It was learnt that the family of Allah Bachayo, a first year student, had earlier moved the district and sessions court over his unlawful confinement. The court had ordered a raid on the police station to verify the claim but, according to the family, the police had shifted him to some unknown location before the raid. The raiding team collected case details from the police record and left.
“My son has been made a scapegoat to protect influential suspects,” the held suspect’s father, Mumtaz Mallah, told the media.
The family’s lawyer, Sharif Bheel, speaking to the media, claimed that Allah Bachayo was subjected to inhumane torture in police custody. He pointed out that he was a minor and should have been treated so. He called for strict legal action against the Dhoronaro SHO.
The Dhoronaro police had not issued any statement regarding the episode till late Saturday evening.
After granting bail to Allah Bachayo, the court sent him to the juvenile prison, Hyderabad, till the matter of the second FIR, registered under Section 13(d) (Arms Ordinance), was decided.
Meanwhile, the parents and relatives of Allah Bachayo took out a rally against police in Dhoronaro town to condemn alleged torture on him and implicating him in ‘fake’ cases. They held a noisy demonstration in front of the college gate.
College Principal Kamal Mustafa also led a rally of students and teachers to demand safety and security as well as immediate arrest of the “actual culprits”.
Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2025
