No arrest in custodial death case

Published August 2, 2006

LAHORE, Aug 1: Police have failed to arrest the sub-inspector allegedly responsible for the death of a youth in custody. Amer Shahzad, 28, of Koocha Bali Ram, Lohari Gate, was found murdered in the custody of Tibbi City police on Friday last.

According to the police, Amer had broken a glass and cut his thigh. “Excessive bleeding from two deep cuts on the left and right thighs caused his death”, reveals the initial postmortem report.

A police source said that SI Atta Muhammad had taken Amer into custody in a robbery case and pressured him to confess it during interrogation. He said it was yet to be ascertained who had inflicted the fatal injury on him —- Amer himself or Atta.

Though a murder case had been registered against Atta, his escape remained elusive. DIG (operations) Aamir Zulifqar Khan said that two teams had been sent to Essa Khail, the accused’s native town, for his arrest. He said that Atta would not be spared, if proved guilty.

Surprisingly, Masti Gate Supervisory Police Officer Rana Shujaat was suspended from service for negligence but the SHO Tibbi City managed to save his neck.

Amer’s father Imtiaz, a cobbler by profession, said that Atta had arrested his son for making some bucks. He said his son was working with him when the SI had arrested him and demanded money for his release. He alleged that SI had cut his son’s thigh during interrogation. —Staff Reporter