Policemen suspended for assaulting woman

NAWABSHAH, March 17: The DPO of Nawabshah on Monday suspended an ASI and a head constable after an inquiry found them guilty of criminally assaulting a scheduled caste woman and causing her to have a miscarriage.

DPO Rukhsar Khawar told Dawn that the ASI Asghar Rahu and the head constable Manzoor Solangi of Qazi Ahmed police station had been suspended over charges of being involved in the criminal assault.

The decision had been taken in light of the findings of initial inquiry conducted by the SPO of Qazi Ahmed.

Four other policemen were also being interrogated in this regard, he said.

The woman had filed an application in the court of district and sessions judge complaining that some police officials barged into her house, beat up her mother and brother, looted cash and valuables and kidnapped her.

They kept her in a police quarter at Qazi Ahmed police station for two days and subjected her to gang rape causing her have miscarriage at three months, she alleged.

Dr Rehana, medicolegal officer at the Nawabshah Medical College Hospital who checked the rape victim on court directives said that she had issued a provisional medical certificate and she was now waiting for the results of a test to verify the victim’s claim about the miscarriage.

She said that she would be able to give a final opinion after the report arrived on Tuesday. The initial investigation thus far indicated that the victim had been assaulted, she said.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/18/2008