KARACHI: After a 14-year-old was gunned down allegedly by the police, authorities on Monday ordered an enquiry to ascertain the role of the police in the killing during an exchange of fire between police and alleged drug dealers in the Orangi Town area of the city.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammed Younis Chandio said that the police had received a drug-related complaint on the Madadgar 15 helpline against Kashif, alias Dabbu, from the Quaid-e-Awam Colony of Orangi Town. The police officer added that as police party took Kashif into custody, certain people of the area tried to get him free.
Furthermore, alleged drug dealers in the area resorted to aerial firing to get the suspect released, to which the police responded. During the exchange of fire, 14-year old boy named Rehan, who was standing outside his house in the vicinity, sustained a critical bullet wound on his chest and died.
The death of the teenager angered the area residents, who protested outside the Mominabad Police Station. The demonstration attracted the attention of higher authorities who pacified the protesters by suspending Station House Officer (SHO) Mumtaz Marwat and registered a murder case against policeman Majid and a civilian, both of whom were subsequently arrested.
Superintendent Police (SP) Abid Ali Baloch told a leading English daily that an FIR had been registered against the policeman and another individual under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of the victim’s father Fida Hussain Shah.
The SP also confirmed that the arrested policeman had been suspended earlier, while the other nominated individual had worked as a police informant.
“The SHO was suspended on charges of negligence, as he was present on the spot but did not take appropriate action to bring the situation under control,” said SSP Chandio.
However, he added that the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Zulfiqar Ali Larik had directed SSP Irfan Ali Baloch and SSP (Investigation) Zeeshan Siddiqi, to conduct an enquiry to determine the circumstances and role of police in the killing of the boy.
The report will be completed within seven days.
SSP Chandio said that the teenager had sustained bullet wounds fired from a 9mm pistol, but it was too early to say who fired the fatal shot.
Taking notice of media reports of a young trader’s alleged torture by police officials, Sindh Inspector General (IG) AD Khowaja on Monday ordered the West District DIG to submit a detailed enquiry report.
He also directed West District SSP to immediately submit a clarification on the matter.
IGP Khowaja also said that departmental action should be taken immediately against those responsible and justice should not be delayed in the matter.
SITE police allegedly detained a citizen and subjected him to torture in custody before releasing him after extracting money, which prompted Sindh IG to order an enquiry against the policemen, officials said on Monday.
