Action against cops sought for torturing robbery victims

BANNU: Elders of Ismailkhel village on Friday asked the Inspector General Police (IGP) Sanaullah Abbasi to take action against two cops for torturing victims who were deprived of a huge cash amount in robbery.

Speaking at a jirga, Haji Feroz Khan, former councilor Shahid Khan, Sher Wali, Jehanzeb Khan and others said Jamal Khan, a butcher, was travelling to Punjab along with his son Afnan to purchase cattle in a taxicab Saturday last. They said that masked men following them in a car intercepted them near Ghuriwala Police Station.They said the robbers snatched Rs1.4 million from Jamal Khan after taking him to an undisclosed location. They said that next day Jamal Khan along with his son and driver went to the Ghuriwala Police Station to register a case but an investigation officer arrested the driver based on suspicion to interrogate him while the deputy superintendent of police, Bannu Rural Circle, Sardad Khan shifted his son Afnan to Serai Naurang Police (Lakki Marwat) where he was subjected to a severe torture.

They quoted the investigation officer as saying that the data of the driver’s mobile would be obtained to trace the robbers, adding that the driver was still clueless despite being in police custody. “Strangely, the police tortured the victim rather than arresting the culprits,” Shahid Khan said. They threatened to stage a protest if the robbers were not arrested and action was not taken against the cops.