DAWN

Sunday, April 25, 1999
By Our Correspondent

Policemen held responsible for death in custody

HYDERABAD, April 24: The Sub-divisional magistrate of Latifabad, Khalid Mehmood Sheikh, has concluded in its inquiry report that a police officer was responsible for the death of Gul Mohammad, an illegal detainee in his custody.

The inquiry officer also found that another person, Nadeem, had been implicated in a false case and detained illegally for a certain period.

Gul Mohammad, a resident of Unit NO. 10, Latifabad, Had been arrested by the A-section police in mid February and his relatives were informed of his death on Feb 24, Police had claimed that he died of cardiac arrest.

However, residents of the area took to the st5reets to express their resentment over the death of Gul Mohammad alias Gulu claiming that he had been subjected to inhuman torture which led to his death.

The protesters, carrying Gullu's body, had also attacked the A-section police station with bricks and rocks and set up bonfire in various localities of the town to demand an inquiry into the affair.

As the situation aggravated, police resorted to tear-gas shelling and finally shooting to disperse angry mob. A case had been lodged against Salman Farooqui, the SHO of the S-section, Shahid Abbasi, an ASI, and a Laeeq and Niaz, constable for their alleged involvement in "torture" on detainee. None of the policemen has been arrested all date.

The SDM, Mr. Sheikh, had been appointed as inquiry officer to collected facts and evidences about the alleged custodial death as well as allegations of torture on one of the friends of the deceased, Nadeem alias Fauji.

In his report, Mr. Sheikh has, revealed that Salman Farooqui appeared to be responsible for the death of Gullu. There were evidences that Fauji was also subjected to torture in the police station. Both of them were falsely implicated I two separate cases, the report added.

The inquiry officer has observed that the deceased night have been subjected to torture in the SHO's room, apparently inaccessible to the senior police officials.

The inquiry endorsed the claim by the victims' relatives that both the men had been confined illegally for 10 or 12 days before Gulu's death.

"Salman Farooqui, constable Kamran, Laeeq and Niaz (the last two policemen already dismissed) and Yameen are held responsible for the death of Gul Muhammad alias Gullu," the report concluded.