| People protest, judicial probe ordered | | Case of alleged police torture: CAPD employee's tooth broken | | M S Nazki
Early Times Report
MENDHAR, May 19: In an alleged case of police torture, a CAPD employee's tooth was broken here last night while his colleague, a storekeeper, was unable to pass urine. Agitated over the alleged incident, which people termed as inhuman, a strong demonstration was held here today against Mendhar SDPO Surinder Choudhary. The protesters demanded registration of a case against the police officer. CAPD wayman Fazal Hussain, storekeeper Mohammad Kabir and TSO Abdul Khaliq were suspended, following their alleged involvement in a case of misappropriation of government ration. CAPD ration bags were seized by police a week or so back when these were being unloaded at Ari in the shop of a school master.
Fazal, who was arrested also, was later bailed out by the court. On being called by the SDPO, he and Kabir appeared before him in his office here yesterday at about 4 pm. Both were released at about 8 pm.
When Fazal reached home late last night, he was bleeding from the mouth and also had injury marks on other parts of the body. His family members said they immediately shifted him to SDH, Mendhar, where doctors told them that his one tooth was broken.
Kabir too went home at Dhargloon where he faced difficulty in passing urine. He was taken by his family to the village PHC. However, following deterioration in his condition, he was referred to the district hospital, Poonch.
Angered by the incident, people gathered at Shaheedi Yadgaar in the town here at about 9 am and protested against the SDPO. At about 11 am, they moved to the Mendhar-Poonch road and blocked it to the vehicular traffic, amidst raising of anti-SDPO slogans.
Quoting the victims, the protesters said that they were allegedly asked by police to give their statement in favour of the TSO.
Talking to Early Times, they said why police were shielding the TSO who was alleged to be the kingpin in the ration scam. It was also unlawful to subject Fazal to unprecedent torture when he had already been bailed out by the court. "Police can only question him but cannot beat him," they asserted.
CAPD ration dealers - Waqar Hussain Shah and Daud Ahmad Khan - who were among the protesters, said the alleged police torture was intolerable. They threatened not to sell the ration till action was not taken against the guilty "cop".
They said police were putting pressure on Fazal and Kabir to give their statement in favour of TSO only because of the latter's close proximity with a local NC leader.
While they protested, Mendhar tehsildar Abdul Khabir visited the spot and told them ADC, Poonch, Mumtaz Choudhary had ordered a judicial probe into the incident. When he told them that the inquiry report would be submitted within two days, the protesters dispersed peacefully. AC (R), Poonch, Shafiq Ahmad and additional SP, Poonch, Amit Gupta have been appointed as inquiry officers. |
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