LARKANA: Arbitrators imposed a fine of Rs2.5m on the former SHO of Waleed police station and a transport operator after they were found guilty of unlawful detention of a 26-year-old youth and responsible for his eventual death in police custody.

The youth, Sahil Solangi, was arrested about two months back vide FIR (No.197/2024) lodged by the transport operator, Ali Hassan Kaheri.

SHO Abdul Razzaq Tagar kept Sahil in the lock-up and later declared that the suspect had committed suicide.

Disbelieving the police claim, Sahil’s father, Saeed Solangi, approached the higher police authorities and a court of law for justice.

Subsequently, an FIR against the then SHO Tagar, and his subordinates, Illahi Bakhsh, Tufail Ahmed Umrani, Hubdar Chandio and Khalid Hussain Raity, along with Ali Hassan and his sons, Shah Jehan and Rabil, was registered at the same police station.

Larkana SSP Dr Mir Rohal Khan Khoso suspended the policemen.

Taking notice of the custodial death, the Sindh IGP also constituted a fact-finding committee, headed by DIG Training Faizullah Korejo, which visited the town and recorded statements of suspects and other people. His probe report is yet to be submitted to the IGP.

In the meantime, the bereaved family took the matter to the elite of Larkana for a settlement.

On Thursday, former Grand Democratic Alliance MPA Moazzim Abbasi and several other influential figures of the area took up the matter for arbitration in the Kot Dorab area of Waleed town.

They heard both sides and reached the conclusion that Sahil was booked in a fake case and that SHO Tagar and transport operator Kaheri were responsible for his death.

The arbitrators imposed a fine of Rs2.5m on SHO Tagar and Ali Hassan Kaheri.

The bereaved family agreed to forgive Hubdar Chandio provide that he visited them in their home and begged pardon.

The two sides accepted the decision and hugged each other.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2025