KARACHI: The Karachi police chief has ordered a three-day investigation into a violent altercation between neighbors in the city’s upscale Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 6, following the emergence of CCTV footage that appears to contradict the official police report and raises questions about cops’ conduct.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan on Sunday directed the South Deputy Inspector General to submit a “complete and unbiased” and “fact-based” report on the incident, according to a police statement.
The order specifically calls for an assessment of all aspects of the case, including the alleged misconduct of police personnel, and for the identification of all those involved.
The directive came a day after the South DIG, Asad Raza, stated he had ordered the investigating officer to conduct a probe “on merit and in an impartial manner.”
The incident, which occurred on Aug. 21, has drawn widespread attention after CCTV footage of the scuffle went viral on social media. The video shows a woman rushing down a flight of stairs with a dumbbell in her hand and charging at another woman, striking her with the weight. Two individuals in what appear to be police uniforms can be seen restraining the woman being assaulted.
The footage also shows a man arriving shortly after and arguing with the woman holding the dumbbell. The victims manage to retreat into their apartment, after which the woman with the dumbbell and another man are seen banging on the door and yelling obscenities. The video concludes with a man in a shalwar kameez using a weapon, provided by one of the uniformed individuals, to smash the CCTV camera.
However, the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Darakhshan police station at 1:40 a.m. on Aug. 21 presents a different version of events.
The FIR, filed by a woman who identified herself as a resident of the fourth floor, invokes several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 337A(i) (punishment for causing hurt), and 382 (theft).
In her complaint, the woman alleged that a man, his sister, and their mother from the third floor came to her door and began kicking it over a parking dispute. She claimed the three hurled verbal abuse and, upon her opening the door, began beating and threatening her. The complainant further alleged that the other side “snatched” her gold earring and two rings.
DIG Raza, however, confirmed that Section 382, pertaining to the alleged theft of gold ornaments, was removed from the FIR as the incident appeared to be a case of assault.
The FIR stated that local police arrived and took the brother and sister into custody based on the complainant’s statement, while their mother fled the scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
