Toba Tek Singh Police Tortures A Christian Youth To Death

In yet another incident of religious bigotry, police inhumanly tortured a Christian youth to death. The deceased identified as 50-year-old, Shehzad Masih was resident of Layyah, a city in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

In line with details, Shehzad Masih was resident of Chak 270 village in Layyah. He was allegedly accused of stealing a motorcycle. He was accused of being involved in incidents of vehicle stealing. He was hooked by the police on May 27, when he was attending the memorial service of his sister. Just when he was attending the memorial service, the police raided the place and arrested him in front of the entire congregation.

While in police custody, Shehzad was subjected to inhumane torture, his family member confirmed. As a result of police’s brutality, he expired in the lock up. The dilemma of the Christian family doesn’t end here; another brother of Shehzad Masih is in still in police custody. Shehzad’s family is fearful that the police may administer same brutality to Shehzad’s brother as well and kill him. On the other hand, the family of Shehzad Masih was initially afraid to collect dead body of Shehzad Masih from the police station.

Police maintains that Shehzad had engaged in a quarrel between prisoners in the lockup. The prisoners bashed each other and so Shehzad sustained injuries and died. However, no FIR was lodged against the alleged prisoner who had killed Shehzad Masih. Police has not taken action against the alleged murderer(s) of Shehzad.