The Punjab police on Monday confirmed that the Christian couple killed in Kot Radha Kishan on Nov 4, had been burnt to death in the presence of a few police officials among other witnesses.
In a report of the incident, including the post-mortem report of the couple, submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday by DCO Kasur and RPO Sheikhupura region, it confirmed that the couple had died of burning with dry heat.
According to the 17-page report, 138 people had been held responsible for the incident. Of these, 59 are currently in police custody while efforts are being made to arrest the rest.
“The challan of the case has been prepared by Joint Investigation Team, and it is being submitted to Anti-Terrorism Court-IV Lahore,” says the report, adding that the JIT was headed by SP Investigation Kasur.
About the collection of circumstantial evidence, the report says that a tractor trolley, broken articles including TV, papers including “Taweez” etc, broken lock, torn police uniforms and wooden rods were used to torture the couple. Statements of eight witnesses, as well as four police officials have also been recorded under Section 161 of the CrPc.
According to the report, on November 4, Rescue 15 service was informed that one woman at the brick kiln had allegedly disrespected the Holy Quran by burning its pages, and that a mob had gathered around her.
At the time, SI Muhammad Ali, ASI Abdul Rasheed and other police officials were patrolling on Adda Manga Road. When they discovered that a mob had gathered at Yousaf Gujjar’s brick kiln in Chak 59 and were reportedly torturing a Christian family, they rushed to the spot.
When police officials reached the spot, they found between 500 and 600 people gathered there. The police said that they tried to stop the mob from damaging the brick kiln’s roof, but were beaten back and even tortured by the mob.
In the meantime, the mob managed to get to Saima and Sajjad Masih and tortured them in the presence of police as well as Iqbal Masih, Shahbaz Masih, sons of Nazir Masih, Imran Masih.
The report adds that the police officials tried to free the couple from the clutches of the crowd but were thwarted. Then, in the presence of police officials and witnesses, seven nominated suspects including Yousuf Gujjar, along with eight to 10 other people thrust the couple into the kiln.
