News Desk |
Officials of the anti-corruption department discovered a hidden torture cell run by SHO Gujjarpura and three constables of Punjab Police in Lahore on Monday. People were kept under custody and tortured by Police officials on the pretext of interrogation.
Anti-corruption officials unearthed the torture cell when they were out in the field for the investigation of the case. The officials heard cries, traced them to a building located right in the middle of the jungle and filmed the horrific scenes.
The torture cell was established at the office of the local forest department. The officials found six locked men including a bed-ridden man with injuries of physical assault. The locked men were subjected to third-degree torture by policemen. Two of them were handcuffed
The anti-corruption officials recorded the accounts of the ordeal of victims in videos. Amjad, a bed-ridden man moaned that he has suffered serious fractures in various parts of the body and that he immediately requires medical attention.
SHO Gujjarpura Muhammad Raza Jafri and police constables were suspended from their job after they were found guilty of violating strict rules of torture of suspects.
Amjad added that the policemen climbed into his house, dragged his wife and children, and pulled him into the van without informing him the reason for his arrest. They brought him to the forest department building a few days back and subjected him to severe torture, which led to the fractures, he claimed.
Amjad further told the officials that he was yet to be apprised of any case lodged against him, alleging that when he asked, the policemen beat him up all night. Instead of taking him to a hospital, they kept him locked in the building, he alleged.
Other captives, Irfan Ali and Zafar narrated similar stories, arrested without knowing the crime, beaten up severely when enquired about the reason for their arrest. The captives added that the police officials came at night just to torture them.
Irfan Ali stated that he ran a small shop of jewellery and cosmetics from where policemen picked him up and dragged him into the police van.
The superintendent of Police began the investigation in the case after the video reached senior police officials of Punjab Police and was widely circulated on social media. Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) retired Captain Arif Nawaz took notice and directed Lahore Capital City Police Officer BA Nasir to conduct a probe into the incident.
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“I’m shocked to find out the torture cell run by the SHO and the other policemen despite clear standing instructions of the Punjab IGP,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Ismail Kharrak.
SHO Gujjarpura Muhammad Raza Jafri and police constables were suspended from their job after they were found guilty of violating strict rules of torture of suspects.