THE killing of a constable by a detainee in a private torture cell, established by a sub-inspector, in a deserted area of the provincial metropolis proves that many such secret torture cells are being operated by police officers to torture suspects/detainees up to their satisfaction.

Surprisingly, a detainee turned the tables on Sub-Inspector Akram of the Gulshan-e-Ravi Police Station, who had establish a torture cell in Shera Kot, by killing his confidant-cum-constable Asif and disposed off his body in an open drain in the Sandah area on Feb 4, 2010. Rare indeed is the case in which a detainee killed a policeman, deputed to keep vigil on the cell inmates and the people around the area.

Torture in custody is a common phenomenon in Punjab because of the rogue legal system and absence of the rule of law. In other words, impunity grants them power to torture without accountability. The officers run their own torture cells in different cities and even in privately-hired houses.

However to date, no police officer has ever been punished for an act of torture, though; they have been suspended, transferred or even dismissed from service if the case against them is proven. The failure to criminalise torture in custody in law provides impunity to police.

Dr Shahid Shaukat Malik is of the view that police excesses and the maltreatment of detainees/under-trial prisoners or suspects tarnish the image of the Punjab Police and encourage the men in ‘khaki’ to consider themselves above the law and sometimes even to become law unto themselves. He says unfortunately, policemen are not trained in modern scientific investigation aimed at checking the use of force and rules are flouted with impunity in the belief that the men in uniform are accountable to none. He says there is no forum where the victims can seek redress and since there are no witnesses to contradict the police version in the event of a custodial death, the accused often goes scot-free.

The use of brutal force and third-degree methods on suspects and under trials remains one of the major and at times sole weapons of the Punjab Police. It is observed that the enforcers of the law are among the major perpetrators of crime against humanity. Extreme torture or assault in custody often results in fatal injuries and even death. Police lock-ups and prison cells in the province are only mirrors a deeper malaise. Worse, several such deaths are not factually reported and are brazenly dismissed as suicides or encounter killings. On January 12, 2010, Mobeen Butt, a desperado, was eliminated in an alleged encounter by police in the Kot Lakhpat area.

A man Muhammad Iftikhar, who was subjected to severe torture in the past few years, said police department, as a law enforcement agency, was the main source of torture for the ordinary citizens. He said the lack of police reform mechanisms had perpetuated the cycle of abuse and any accused, after his arrest, must endure physical and/or mental torture. He said investigating officers at each police station were more eager to get confessional statements through brutal show of force. The police department is notorious for its use of the third degree - a short-cut to investigation. Unable to cope with rising crime and hierarchical pressures from the authorities above, the police resort to it to produce quick results. Those subjected to such torture often break down and confess to crimes they ay have never committed. The first time offenders and petty criminals from the poor and vulnerable sections of society are the easiest victims - be they children, women or members of the marginalised communities.

It is scandalous that there is no proper mechanism in place to check such brutality. Yet, nothing has changed and the reasons are not far to seek why the menace still persists.

Custodial crimes infringe upon human rights and the confessions, thus extracted, often fail to stand the legal scrutiny. Violence at the hands of the police is counter-productive. It can turn innocent suspects into hardcore criminals. The grouse they have against any particular policeman motivates them to rebel against the country.

Disciplinary action is seldom taken against the guilty cops and the inquiry proceedings are often shelved. Transfers and suspensions are just routine measures to buy time. Cases are swept under the carpet before long as public memory is short and the media outcry short lived. The cases of torture by police must be investigated expeditiously by an independent agency rather than police who tend to go soft on crime committed by their colleagues.

Rana Assadullah Khan, former secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, said that in a civilised police set-up, people were not killed in fake encounters or lock-ups and the enforcers of law did not use third-degree methods to make those under trial confess. A professional police force presupposed better methods to collect information, he said, adding that if the investigation were efficient and foolproof there would be more convictions and fewer acquittals. He said training and recruitment were the other important areas that needed to be addressed promptly. He said the training programme should be reoriented to bring about a change in the police attitude and mindset regarding investigation, and added police must recognise and respect human rights and adopt scientific investigation methods.

During the first six days of February, no less than 12 persons were killed, including a police constable, Asif in different parts of the area.

A youth, Haider Ali, was shot dead by three persons in Ichhra. However, the victim’s parents accused the SHO Samanabad of killing their son. A drug-pusher, Akbar Khan, was allegedly tortured to death by the police in Harbanspura. However, police claimed that he died of natural causes. A 22-year-old youth was strangled by unidentified persons in the Kahna area while one Hafeez was killed by his son-in-law in the Township area. One Mohammad Saleem was shot dead by dacoits in Sandah area and a 22-year-old girl was strangled by her father in Kahna area in the name of honour. 35-year-old Sajjad was shot dead by five persons over monetary dispute in Manawan. Sakina Bibi, mother of four, was poisoned to death allegedly by her husband at Batapur. A 55-year-old man was shot dead by his son over a property issue at Shahdara. 40-year-old Rashid was stabbed to death by addicts at Shafiqabad and two-year-old child Zain died after falling into a manhole at Shahdara.

Due to gas leakage in Factory Area, one Ashraf, his wife Nasreen and two children Saba, 10, and Shahid 2, expired in a local hospital. Two persons lost their lives when the roof of a dilapidated house caved in the Lower Mall area.

Police recovered nine unidentified bodies from various parts of the city, claiming that most of them were addicts who had died of excessive use of drugs or natural causes.

Around seven persons lost their lives in different road accidents in various parts of the city during the first six days of February. During the first six days, the maximum number of cars were lifted from the City, Model Town and Cantt divisions and around 36 cars were lifted or snatched from the six police divisions during the said period. Similarly, the maximum number of bikes were lifted from City Police, Model Town Police, Cantt Police and Civil Lines Police divisions while around 48 bikes were snatched or lifted from the six police divisions.

Around 126 incidents of dacoities and robberies were reported in the six police divisions during the first six days of February. The outlaws mostly struck in the jurisdiction of Baghbanpura, Shalimar, North Cantt, Islampura, Shahdara, Misri Shah, Gulberg, Liaqatabad, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Manga Mandi, Sattukatla, and Green Town police stations.