LAHORE, May 16: The Lahore High Court has ordered the Toba Tek Singh district police officer (DPO) to take strict action against an inspector who illegally detained a teenaged boy at a police station in Gojra.

Justice Khurshid Anwar Bhinder ordered the DPO to initiate a departmental inquiry against the policeman and submit a report to the court within a fortnight.

Sub-inspector Ansr had kidnapped Mehtab from his Mian Mir residence on May 14 and kept him in illegal custody for ransom, Advocate Zafar Iqbal Chohan told the court.

On May 15, Justice Bhinder deputed a bailiff to ascertain if the boy was being kept in illegal custody. The bailiff went to the police station in Gojra and found the boy there without any charge.

Appearing before the court, the boy pointed towards the inspector, and said he had taken him away from his residence. When the judge asked the inspector to mention as to why he took him away, he said his brother was required in a criminal case.

On this, Justice Bhinder asked him to tell how he could detain a person for the crime of another. He said if the police had something against Mehtab’s brother, they should have proceeded against the accused.

“Can you imagine how her mother would have felt? I am sure you will have children. How will one feel if one’s children are taken away?” the judge observed.

Later, the judge handed over the boy to his mother.