Police authorities in Punjab took strict action against officers involved in torture of a local snooker club owner. The police asserted that they will not tolerate violence against citizens.
According to the details, Station House Officer (SHO) Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi, stormed a snooker club along with several other police officers and asked the customers to leave. Apparently, the snooker club was open after hours and the police officers were there to shut it down.
As per the CCTV footage going viral on social media, the police officers damaged the pool tables with cue sticks. Moreover, the owner of the snooker club was allegedly beaten by the police.
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Reacting to the incident, the Twitter account of the Punjab Police revealed that the Central Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi has suspended the SHO and other police officers involved in the incident. An inquiry has also been launched.
“CPO Rawalpindi has suspended the SHO and other police officers involved in this incident and started an inquiry. Violence and ill-treatment of any citizen will not be tolerated. Strict action is being taken against those who bring disrepute to the police and exceed their authority,” Punjab Police said.
سی پی او راولپنڈی نے اس واقعہ میں ملوث ایس ایچ او اور دیگر پولیس اہلکاروں کو معطل کر کے انکوائری کا آغاز کر دیا ہے۔ کسی بھی شہری پر تشدد اور ناروا سلوک ہرگز برداشت نہیں۔پولیس کی بدنامی کا باعث بننے اور اختیارات سے تجاوز کرنے والوں کے خلاف سخت ایکشن لیا جا رہا ہے۔ https://t.co/vfQjRMRQv0
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) August 31, 2022
Police brutality raises alarm
While the Punjab Police certainly took strict action against the officers, netizens are condemning the incident on social media and raising concern over the frequent incidents of torture by the police.
آپ لوگوں کی بےغیرتی کی وجہ سے عوام پولیس سے نفرت کرنے لگی ہے۔ کبھی انسانوں والا کام بھی کر لیا کرو
— Atif Sheikh (@ShAtifMehmood) August 31, 2022
This is not the first time that the police in Punjab have come under fire for torture. Recently, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill claimed torture and sexual assault while in police custody.
Moreover, the Punjab police resorted to extreme human rights violations during PTI’s Azadi March earlier this year. Pertinent to mention that PTI is in governance in Punjab and it had vowed that it would take action against the police for violence during Azadi March.
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