Eight Vehari policemen arrested for ‘torturing’ woman in their custody

Eight policemen were arrested on Sunday after they were accused of ‘torturing’ a woman in their custody in Vehari’s Ladan. The suspects include CIA SI Amjad Khan, CIA ASI Muhammad Younas and TSI Muhammad Tahir. The 50-year-old woman, Zahuran Elahi, was working as a maid for a man named Ayaz Daulatana. She was handed over to the police by her employer, who accused her of stealing gold from his house. The police took me into custody and kept me in a torture cell, the victim said in a statement. I was tied and repeatedly tortured by the police officers, she said. Her medical reports showed bruises, swelling and torture marks on her body, doctors at DHQ Hospital confirmed. Shakeela, a constable posted at the Danewal police station, witnessed the scene. She was asked to come along during the questioning. She said that the suspects questioned the woman, and when she denied the theft charges, they beat her. “I tried to stop them, but was unable to,” she said. The Multan RPO had taken notice of the incident and suspended the three officers on Saturday. A FIR was also registered against 13 policemen under sections 354  (assault or use of criminal force against a woman), 337K (causing hurt to extort confession), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 155C (liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed) of the Pakistan Penal Code. These are the punishments of the following sections: 354 - punishable with death or life imprisonment 337K- imprisonment of up to 10 years 342- imprisonment of one year and Rs3,000 fine 155- punishable with a fine Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has asked the RPO to submit an investigation report within 48 hours. With reporting by Anwar Aftaab Follow SAMAA English on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.