The Ravi Town administration and Shahdara Police tortured a 25-year-old man to death near the Ravi Bridge in the Ravi Road Police Station precincts on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Kallo, a resident of the mud huts located on edge of the Ravi Bridge. According to family members of the deceased, the Ravi Town administration, in connivance with police, launched a massive operation against shanty towns located on bank of the River Ravi. During the operation, Kallo offered resistance due to which policemen and Ravi Town administration officials severely tortured Kallo which led to his death.
After Kallo’s death, his family members and other mud huts residents, held a protest after placing his body on the Ravi Bridge. Protesters also torched tyres and kept the Ravi Bridge blocked for about an hour, which caused a massive traffic jam on its adjacent roads. Protestors chanted slogans against the town administration and requested the Punjab CM and CJP to take stern action against the responsible people.
Heavy police contingents, led by Shahdara Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Riaz Shah, reached the spot. Riaz negotiated with the protesters and convinced them to shift Kallo’s body to the city morgue for autopsy after assuring them that stern action would be taken against the responsible people. The DSP told journalists that they shifted the body to the city morgue and investigations are underway. He said that if policemen were found involved in torturing Kallo, stern action will be taken against them. Riaz said that Kallo’s family have not filed any complaint for registration of a case and police will register a case whenever they receive a complaint from the victim’s family.
Amir Shahzad, a close relative of Kallo, told Pakistan Today that Kallo was ill due to which he was not able to bear the torture of policemen and town administration. He said that the town administration had ordered them to move from the area around four days ago but due to financial issues, they were not able to relocate. Shahzad said that Kallo requested the town administration to give him a day or two because he was the only bread earner of his two sisters and mother. He said that the authorities turned down his request severely tortured him without any reason.
River-side resident killed
