GUJRAT, Jan 29: All colleges in the district observed a complete strike on Thursday against police torture on students and teachers of the Zamindar College on Bhimbher Road on Wednesday.

Police authorities have suspended from service Civil Lines Station House Officer Maulvi Sharif and Inspector Abdul Qayyum Gondal for their action against students and teachers.

Students and teachers of the Zamindar College demonstrated outside the principal office against the construction of a wall on what they say college land, and police torture on the students and teachers on the college premises. The placards-waving protesters amid anti-government chants demanded action against the police.

District Bar Association and Pakistan Medical Association activists also took out protest rallies against the police. The colleges in Sara-i-Alamgeer and Kharian also boycotted classes and took out protest rallies to express solidarity with the students of Zamindar College.

The Civil Lines police registered a first information report of the Wednesday incident. Sources said the version of both parties – college teachers and students and the police – was also mentioned in the case. District Police Officer Riaz (DPO) Nazeer Gara said police would not arrest any student. He suspended Civil Lines SHO Maulvi Sharif and Inspector Abdul Qayyum Gondal.

DPO Gara and Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Afzaal Kausar visited the college to listen to the students and teachers. Students and teachers demanded a criminal case against City DSP Sikandar Ghuman and Inspector Sharif.

Pakistan Muslim League-N MPA Nasir Mehmood also visited the college but the protesting students raised slogans against him and asked him to take action against the police officers.

Former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi and MNA Chaudhry Wajahat Husain telephoned Zamindar College Principal Prof Mumtaz Warraich and expressed solidarity with him. They condemned the construction of the wall on the disputed land as well as the police action.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took a note of the incident and appointed a two-member inquiry team, consisting of Board of Revenue member Akhlaque Ahmed Tarrar and Gujranwala Regional Police Officer Zulfiqar Cheema to probe into the issue.