LAHORE – The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) on Tuesday successfully recovered the bodies of the two boys, who had drowned in River Ravi on Sunday, after hectic operation that lasted for 22 hours.
“We have recovered the partially decomposed bodies of Sadaqat Ali and Muhammad Ali,” a Rescue spokesperson said. Sadaqat Ali’s body was recovered at Faizpur Interchange, while that of Muhammad Ali at the Dhamkay village near Jaranwala Road.
She informed that the operation was started with a response time of one minute by the nearest rescue post established at River Ravi and inaugurated by Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer a few days ago.
According to her, the nearby rescue post learnt that three youngsters had drowned, but fortunately one of them managed to approach the banks of the river. “About 20 rescuers, mostly divers, accompanied by local swimmers were deputed in three shifts and they finally succeeded in recovering the two dead bodies on Tuesday afternoon,” the Rescue spokesperson added.
Describing the operation area, she said the divers were asked to expand their search area with rise in the the river’s water flow. “Water Rescue equipment was also used in the operation, including rescue boats, life rings, life guards and rescue rope,” she stated. Later, the police concerned handed over the dead bodies to the bereaved families after completing the necessary medico-legal formalities.
PRISONER MOLESTED: A 25-year-old prisoner of the Kot Lakhpat Jail was allegedly molested by the warder of Barrack No 4 a couple of days ago, it was learnt on Tuesday.
A source told TheNation that a prisoner named Zeeshan alias Shani was imprisoned in Barrack No 4 of the Kot Lakhpat Jail where Naseer alias Naseera was deputed as warder.
“He sodomised the prisoner and gave him life threats in case he informed anyone in the jail about the incident,” said the source, adding another inmate Shehryar alias Chattu Watta was the witness of the crime.
The source further said such incidents were a routine matter for jail authorities who hush them up and threaten the victims of dire consequences. Kot Lakhpat Jail Superintendent Mian Mohsin Rafiq Chaudhary and Deputy Superintendent (Admin) Sarwar Sumra could not be approached for the official version despite repeated attempts by this scribe.
GOLDSMITH TORTURED TO DEATH: A 40-year-old goldsmith, identified as Muhammad Safdar, a resident of Sandha Khurd, was allegedly tortured to death by Data Darbar Police on Tuesday.
Safdar was taken into police custody from his home on August 22 in connection with a case (233/12) registered against him under Section 489F of the Pakstan Penal Code (PPC).
A source said the police thrashed the goldsmith asking him to repay Rs0.2 million to the complainant. “The police concerned twice sought his three-day remand and severely tortured him,’ he added.
As per case details, Sadfar had issued a cheque to the complainant but it was dishonoured by the bank on which the latter got a case registered against him on charges of fraud. Police said the deceased had been declared as a proclaimed offender by the court in the same case and he had been arrested on the same charges.
After Safdar’s condition became serious, police shifted him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police authorities stated that departmental action would be taken against the guilty cops as per the post-mortem report of the deceased. The bereaved family has alleged that Safdar was arrested in good health and the police tortured him to death. Further investigation is underway.