SWAT: Five policemen in Swat have been arrested for allegedly torturing three women publicly, who were arrested on charges of theft.
A video of the torture surfaced on the social media two days ago in which it can be seen clearly that the station house officer (SHO) and other policemen of Saidu Sharif Police Station are openly torturing the women allegedly involved in theft. The policemen, including the SHO, can be seen slapping and kicking the accused women while making them sit in a police vehicle.
Besides torture, the policemen could also be heard using abusive words for the accused women while shifting them in a police vehicle to the police station.
After public backlash, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan took notice of the incident. He ordered investigation into the incident and sought a report immediately.
The chief minister said violence against women by the police is intolerable. He said officials involved in the incident will be severely punished in accordance with the law. He said no officer will be allowed to overstep their authority.
The suspended officers were identified as SHO Saidu Sharif Police Station SI Rafiullah, ASHO Kokarai Police Station SI Ayaz Ahmad and constables Muhammad Alam, Ishaq and Fazle Khaliq.
KP Inspector General Police Dr Sanaullah Abbasi said investigation against the women who were allegedly involved in theft is underway but no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
He said all officers involved in highhandedness will be severely punished.
The KP police chief said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Malakand and District Police Officer (DPO) will investigate the incident and he will be personally supervising the probe.
After surfacing of the video, the citizens criticised police over torturing the women publicly and said this is illegal and unethical act. They said if the women are really involved in some crime then they must be dealt according to the law, but torturing them before everyone and disgracing them is setting wrong precedent. And then the torture is filmed and someone shared it on the social media which went viral within no time.
