VEHARI, Aug 5: Three brothers tortured a boy to death on the suspicion of stealing a pigeon in Ghalooin village of Mailsi tehsil in Mitro police station area.

Naeem, Sharjeel and Rashid suspected that Saqlain Afzal, 12, had stolen their pigeon. On Friday noon, they kidnapped him and took him to their dera. They subjected him to severe physical torture and threw him in the street when he fell unconscious.

The family took Saqlain to the THQ hospital. He regained his senses after first-aid and informed them of the incident. Due to his serious condition, the doctors referred him to Nishtar Hospital, Multan. But he died on way to Multan.

As the accused belonged to an influential family, Mitro police did not register a case. The family and other relatives, however, gathered outside the police station and placed the body on the road. On it police registered the case on Saturday morning.

It is learnt that when the family brought the body to the THQ hospital, the doctors did not perform postmortem examination on the pressure of former medical superintendent Dr Chaudhry Ashraf, who is a close relative of the accused.

Later, dozens of people, led by union council nazims Mian Amin, Zahid Mitro and Rao Ishaq held a protest against THQ hospital MS Dr Jalal. They alleged that police and the doctors were under the influence of local PML leaders. They said police delayed registration of case and doctors delayed autopsy.

When contacted, Dr Jalal said the hospital had no equipment for autopsy. He said he had asked the family to bring medicines and equipment but they refused.

However, autopsy was conducted at around noon.

KIDNEY TRADER: Burewala city police registered a case against an alleged “kidney trader” on the orders of Vehari DPO.