LAHORE, Dec 1: A herbal medicine factory owner died in the Kot Lakhpat police custody on Monday.

Family and neighbours of the victim lodged a strong protest over the alleged killing and later reached the Kot Lakhpat police station in protest.

Shaukat Ali, 50, of Pak Arab Housing Society in Kot Lakhpat was held at the police station for his alleged fake medicines business.

Shoaib Sial, son-in-law of the victim, alleged that police officials picked Shaukat from his residence.

He said the police officials later asked the family to shift Shaukat to hospital as his condition was deteriorating.

Shoaib said they took Shaukat to the Lahore General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

He alleged police had subjected Shaukat to sever mental and physical torture.

Kot Lakhpat DSP Rashid Sindhu confirmed the detention of Shaukat at the police station in the morning but denied that he was tortured.

“He died of cardiac arrest after he was released,” the DSP claimed and disconnected his cell phone.

When Dawn tried to contact SHO Muhammad Ashraf, one of his subordinates attended the cell phones.“He is inside the Kot Lakhpat police station so contact him later,” said the man attending the phone.

ROBBERY: Robbers looted cash and jewellery from a family in Shafeeqabad.

Police said two robbers stopped Aamir Shahzad and his family and snatched Rs25,000, a gold chain, three rings and cell phones.

Two robbers held Muhammad Nazir in Garden Town and looted Rs210,000 and a cell phone while as many robbers looted cash and a cell phone from Rehmat in Mughalpura.

Two robbers waylaid Nasir Khushnood in Shahdara Town and deprived him of Rs100,000 and a cell phone while as many robbers took away Rs60,500 and a cell phone from Anwar Ali in Shahdara.

Muhammad Aslam was robbed of Rs3,000 and a motorcycle in Ichhra while Zulfikar lost Rs10,000 and a cell phone to robbers in Baghbanpura.

STOLEN: Thieves stole a van in Old Anarkali and a motorcycle in Gulberg.