CHAKWAL: The custodian of Qadriya Qalandriya Makhdumia Shrine in Chakwal was booked along with his 15 followers under different charges including torturing a constable, obstructing police from performing their duty and defying section 144 imposed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, police said on Thursday.

A police official said the nominated accused secured an interim bail from a local court on Friday.

According to police, eight people including Mehmoodul Hassan were travelling in the vehicle at a time when only two people were allowed to travel.

The travellers not only defied section 144 but were without protective gear such as masks.

Mehmoodul Hassan did not stop and went to nearby Khokar Bala village and after half an hour eight men came on motorbikes and attacked constable Yasir Nazar.

The injured constable was shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kallar Kahar.

A police team tried to arrest Mehmoodul Hassan but, according to Investigating Officer Shahid Akbar, he managed to flee.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2020