NAROWAL, Dec 18: Scores of people blocked Narowal-Sialkot Road on Thursday for several hours after a youth died from alleged police torture at Jinnah Hospital.

The police resorted to baton charge, tear gas and aerial firing to disperse the protesters as a result 20 people fainted.

Reports said the Qila Ahmedabad police had arrested Muhammad Saleem, 20, son of tailor Liaquat Ali, a few days back on suspicion of his involvement in a dacoity case.

The police allegedly tortured him and later handed him over to his family in a very critical condition. Saleem’s parents shifted him to Jinnah Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries On Thursday.

After his death, people of Qila Ahmedabad blocked Narowal-Sialkot Road, burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the police.

The police resorted to baton charge, tear gas and aerial firing. Twenty protesters fainted due to tear gas.

Narowal DPO Tariq Rustam Chohan said the police had arrested Saleem a few days ago on the complaints of the people of the area and then released him after one or two days.

Chohan said he had ordered an inquiry and if some police official was found guilty, stern action would be taken against him. —Correspondent