LAHORE - Police yesterday brushed aside the claims of a Christian man who reported to the local police that unidentified men chopped off his both arms when he refused to convert.

Police investigators say they believe Aqeel lost his both the arms in a train accident. However, a criminal case was lodged with the Ghalib Market police station on the complaint of the victim and the police were investigating the incident.

A senior police investigator yesterday told The Nation that three suspects are detained in connection with the incident. "The circumstantial evidences do not support the claims of the victim. Apparently, it seemed that the man lost his arms in a train accident," lady police officer Ammara Athar said.

She said Aqil Masih Medico-Legal Case (MLC) is underway in a hospital and the report has yet to be produced before the police. “We have yet to testify the claim of Aqil, we believe his arms were chopped off in a train accident,” she said.  According to police sources the complainant Aqil Masih is addict who due to drug overdose went near the train which chopped off his arms. 

The incident reportedly took place on June 24. On July 12 police registered a case (FIR 689/16) on the complaint of Aqeel Masih, son of Inayat Masih, resident of 295A, Shah Jamal Town, Walton Road at Ghalib Market Police Station with intervention of Faryad Bhatti, member of Minorities Advisory Council Punjab.

Faryad Bhatti told The Nation that there was absolutely no sign of religion force conversation in this case, particularly. “Much hype was created right after the incident came into notice but the drop scene occurred immediately as Rescue 1122 shifted him to hospital from Sher Pao Bridge near Railway Lines put back the claim of Aqeel,” he said.