Protest after youth dies during police raid, family alleges torture

LAHORE (92 News) - A 18-year-old youth died after Nawab Town police raided shanties to interrogate a theft case in Johar Town near Expo Centre Lahore on Saturday leading to a protest afterwards. The victim's father alleged police brutally tortured his son Ashfaq who later died, however, police claimed the youth died after he fell to the ground and got his head hit to a stone while fleeing. Punjab police chief Arif Nawaz Khan sought report into the incident. Ghulam Rasool alleged that police intruded their residential property and subjected his son to torture with the butts of guns and stones. He said he was watching television along with his sons at the time of the incident. Policemen didn't utter a single word when asked why were they thrashing his son, he said, adding policemen escaped from the scene after leaving his son fatally wounded. The family blocked a main road in Johar Town by placing body and lodged protest against police abuse. However, police made its point that ASI Younas of Nawab Town police along with his three subordinates raided the makeshift shanties in Johar Town on information of gambling. The gypsies resisted and attacked police with stones and during scuffle a youth identified as Ashfaq fell to the ground and his head banged to the stone. According to Lahore police spokesman, police shifted the injured to Jinnah Hospital where he died. He said police were taking action in the light torture allegation leveled by the victim's family and would further proceed as soon police receive written complaint from the family. Meanwhile, IGP Arif Nawaz sought detailed report from the capital city police officer and directed strict departmental action against responsible policemen.