FAISALABAD, July 31: Scores of people on Thursday staged a demonstration in Gaoshala against police after a man, allegedly tortured by Jhang Bazaar police, died at a hospital.

The protesters burnt tyres, blocked Dijkot Road for two hours and raised slogans against the police. They attacked police vehicles with stones.

They demand that the government take action against the policemen who allegedly tortured Tariq Mehmood. Mehmood was arrested by Jhang Bazaar police on charges of possessing liquor.

Talking to newsmen, Mehmood’s widow said her husband was missing for the last few days. She searched him everywhere, but to no avail. Some policemen told her on July 22 that Mehmood was admitted to the district headquarters hospital after his health deteriorated. She went to the hospital and found Mehmood unconscious, “apparently because of the police torture”.

Kotwali Supervisory Police Officer Saleem said Jhang Bazaar police arrested Mehmood on July 13 with two liquor bottles and sent him to the central jail on a judicial remand the very next day.

He said his body had been sent to Allied Hospital for an autopsy. He denied police tortured Mehmood, arguing that jail authorities would not receive any under trial prisoner having torture marks on his body.

Central Jail Superintendent Qazi Aslam said Mehmood was hospitalised on July 22 after his health deteriorated.

Doctors said Mehmood was an addict and diabetic, he said. He was bailed out on July 24, he added.