I HAD heard of police brutality as well as highhandedness, but recently experienced it myself when I faced it at the hands of Punjab police personnel. I work in the hospitality industry, and on my way back home, police stopped me at a checkpost near Rohi Nala, which falls under the jurisdiction of Nishtar Colony Police Station in Lahore.

Instead of checking my identity and bag, a policeman started asking weird questions. When I had enough of his strange questions, I took out my cellphone to record a video of his conduct. This enraged him and he snatched my phone and strangulated me. He twisted my arm, and even slapped me while his colleagues continued hurling abuses at me. He threatened to take me to a remote place and kill me. Yes, he said that.

After an hour of physical assault and humiliation, they returned my phone and asked me to apologise for trying to make the video. I was unable to sleep the whole night. Instead of controlling crime, police officials are busy bullying law-abiding citizens. Such behaviour from police is inhumane. The authorities should take notice of the incident, and invest in on-job training of all police personnel.

Javed Ahmed
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2024