LAHORE: A police official of the Organised Crime Unit (OCU), Lahore, has been suspended from service and faces departmental and legal proceedings for not only subjecting a youth to brutal torture, but also making his family hear the victim’s cries on mobile phone.

There have been complaints that some Lahore OCU (formerly Crime Investigation Agency -- CIA) officials with tainted profiles were misusing their powers to extort money from the people, using third-degree torture in custody.

A young man, Usman, a resident of Raj Garh, is the latest victim of torture and abuse of power by an OCU official, (now suspended) assistant sub inspector (ASI) Kamran Tepu.

Police sources say that the OCU official subjected Usman to brutal torture in custody and made the victim’s sister and mother hear his cries on their mobile phone.

The family, however, recorded the entire conversation with the police official, during which he also used abusive language.

In the audio recording, the ASI can be heard abusing Usman’s sister for approaching some influential people for the release of her brother. The ASI then asks the girl to wait for a minute and then orders an other policeman to beat Usman harshly and let his family members hear the victim’s screams.

During the torture, when the victim mentions his deceased father, the ASI immediately interrupts him saying, “Don’t call your father for help because he has died. Call your mother and sister who are hearing your painful cries on the phone right now.”

The audio clip of the conversation between Usman’s sister and the OCU police official, with the victim’s cries in the background, went viral, drawing strong criticism against the police.

The sources say the OUC officials have become notorious for brutally torturing the suspects, even innocent citizens, in custody.

They say most of the complaints against the OCU police are related to alleged torture that includes beating the suspects inhumanly in custody, hitting their feet soles with clubs, hanging them by their wrists or ankles for hours, and striping them naked.

Taking notice of the complaint by Usman’s family, Lahore OCU DIG Imran Kishwar got ASI Kamran arrested, lodging a case against him with Nolakha police for misuse of authority.

The DIG told Dawn that Kamran was posted at OCU Kotwali. He had recently apprehended Usman, a proclaimed offender in a case lodged in Faisalabad.

Mr Kishwar said the mother of the accused contacted ASI Kamran on his mobile phone on Nov 13 to inquire about the arrest of her son. During the conversation, he said, the ASI used threatening and abusive language.

“The ASI is also charged with making the victim’s family hear Usman’s cries while being tortured in custody, which adds to the severity of the allegations,” the DIG says.

He says the ASI has been placed under suspension, while departmental and legal proceedings have also been initiated over his conduct.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024