KARACHI, Aug 28: The committee, probing into the incident of the two suspects who were burnt inside Gizri police station lock- up, found that the suspects had burnt themselves.

The committee, headed by SSP Sanaullah Abbasi, maintained that "even if the suspects burnt themselves, they were most probably, lured into carrying out this extreme action."

Well-placed sources in the police department said that the committee, which submitted its report on Friday night, stated that it (committee) was not in a position, at this stage, to pinpoint the exact circumstances which compelled the suspects (Saleem Khan and Ameer Zada) to resort to such an act.

Saleem Khan, 41, and Ameer Zada, 35, allegedly involved in some robbery cases, were picked up by Gizri police on Aug 18, while their families claimed that they were nabbed on Aug 9. They were burnt in Gizri PS on Aug 23. Ameer succumbed to wounds on Aug 25 and Saleem on the next day.

Sindh IGP Syed Kamal Shah said: "The suspects tried to burn themselves and thought someone would rescue them. Their intention might have been that they could avoid police remand and could be sent to jail custody."

According to the committee's report, the mere fact that the suspects managed to burnt themselves inside the lock-up shows criminal negligence of police.

The committee revealed that Constable Badshah Khan was the ring leader of a gang and both suspects were its members. "He (Badshah Khan) carries out his activities in connivance with some other senior and junior police officials", it believed.

After interrogating Saleem Khan and 19 police officials, the committee in its report stated that some "form of liquid fuel" was used and the probable source of fuel appeared to have been motorcycles which were parked inside the police station. This showed "supervisory negligence of guard sentry, head muharrar and SHO of Gizri PS," it stated.

During the course of inquiry, the committee found that the suspects were held by Gizri police on Aug 9, while their formal arrest was shown on Aug 18. The suspects, till the date of incident, were being subjected to third degree methods during the interrogation, it stated.

It was also established that the suspects were hardened criminals who had previous record of criminal activities. It disclosed that Saleem Khan had also tried to commit suicide on May 2, 2000, during custody.

The committee learnt that the suspects during interrogation disclosed the name of their ring leader as Constable (investigation wing) Badshah Khan of Keamari Town, former guard of DSP Asghar Usman. However, the efforts of police to nab the ring leader failed as he (Badshah Khan) was closely affiliated with DSP Asghar Usman.

It expressed disappointment that the investigation of the arrested suspects was supervised by SI Arif Usman of the Gizri police investigation wing, who was the brother of DSP Asghar Usman. "The ignorance of the DSP Investigation Clifton Town of this fact becomes all the more striking when the TPO Clifton sent a misconduct report to the same effect on Aug 13 to DIG Operations, DIG Investigation Zone-I and the CCPO, which gives a rise to credible suspicion of the intention of the officers," the report stated.

The report, sent by TPO Clifton, reads: "As reported by the SHO Gizri, Constable (18390) Badshah Khan is living in Keamari, and has taken a bungalow on rent in Frere police jurisdiction. SHO Gizri picked up some suspects and interrogated them. During the interrogation, it has come to the notice that the said constable is involved in robberies/ dacoities, and car snatching cases of Gizri police limits. On this information, SHO Gizri conducted raid on the rented bungalow of the constable, but the constable had fled. He (Badshah Khan) carries out his (criminal) activities in connivance with some otherpolice officials."

However, TPO Clifton did not mention in his report the names of those police officials which were disclosed during the interrogation, sources said.

When the committee submitted its report on Aug 27, the police high-ups dismissed Badshah Khan and suspended DSP Asghar Usman.

The committee recommended stern departmental action against Badshah Khan and asked SSP Investigation Zone-I to hand over the constable to SHO Gizri for interrogation.

The committee was of the view that this amounted to gross supervisory lapse on the part of DSP (Investigation) Gizri Malik M. Ehsan for not approaching senior officers for transferring the investigation from SI Arif Usman to some other officer for a fair investigation. At the same time, the failure of DSP Asghar Usman to produce the constablegives rise to serious suspicion.

The committee found discrepancies in the statements of the suspects and the officials which suggested that they had burnt themselves. The committee in its report stated that a half burnt match box, and a plastic utensil were found in the toilet. However, the committee did not mention as to how the match box was found inside when everything given to the suspects including their meals, was thoroughly checked by the police guards, the sources claimed.

The committee also recommended that Constable Badshah Khan should be dismissed in absentia for his involvement in criminal cases. An action should also be taken against Inspector Aurangzeb of Korangi Industrial Area, and SI Manzoor, who is known to be associated with Badshah Khan's gang as disclosed by SI Arif Usman. SI Manzoor was also one of the investigation team member, who interrogated the two suspects.

Following the committee's report, police registered a case of criminal negligence against SIs Arif Usman, Manzoor Ahmed and Nasrullah on Saturday.

Earlier on Aug 23, the police had registered cases of negligence against SHO Gizri Inspector Abdul Ghaffar Jumani, HC Abid, ASI Faiz and Constable Badaruddin.