KARACHI: Disciplinary proceedings were initiated on Sunday against three cops for their alleged involvement in a recent scuffle between two apartment residents in Defence Housing Authority’s (DHA) Phase 6, a police officer said.
The development comes after the CCTV footage of the incident, which took place on August 21, went viral on social media.
South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that formal proceedings have been initiated in the matter and the policemen allegedly involved in the incident have been identified.
The three were directed to appear before the South DIG tomorrow (Monday) at his office for disciplinary proceedings.
DIG Raza also told Dawn that both parties have been asked to attend the inquiry proceedings. Additionally, neighbours were also asked to provide information about the incident and relevant digital evidence.
Earlier in the day, Karachi Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan had sought a report within three days on the scuffle and the alleged involvement and “misconduct” of police personnel in the matter.
AIG Khan ordered a “complete and unbiased” inquiry into the incident, instructing the South deputy inspector general to submit a report within three days, an official police statement said.
He sought a “fact-based report” on the alleged misconduct of police personnel in the matter, it added.
The AIG directed that all aspects of the case should be assessed and those involved should be identified, according to the statement.
On Saturday, DIG Raza had told Dawn that he had directed the investigation officer to conduct a probe on merit and in an impartial manner.
CCTV and FIR
In the CCTV footage of the incident, a woman can be seen rushing down a flight of stairs with a dumbbell in her hand and charging at another woman before using it to hit her.
The video also showed two individuals in what appeared to be police uniforms restraining the woman being assaulted, and a man who came up the stairs shortly after and began arguing with the woman with the dumbbell.
At one point, the man and woman being assaulted managed to go inside what appeared to be their home, following which the woman with a dumbbell and another man began banging on their door and yelling obscenities.
At the end, a man in a shalwar kameez can be seen using a weapon, provided by one of the people in uniform, to smash the CCTV camera.
But the incident’s first information report (FIR) offered a different version of events.
It was registered at Darakhshan police station at 1:40am on Aug 21 on the complaint of a woman.
The FIR seen by Dawn invoked Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 337A(i) (punishment of shajjah), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint to commit theft) and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
However, DIG Raza said that Section 382 pertaining to the alleged theft of gold ornaments had been removed from the FIR as the incident appeared to be a case of assault.
In the complaint, the woman described herself as a resident of the fourth floor of an apartment building, adding that a man, his sister and their mother — who resided on the third floor — came to their door and started kicking it.
The complainant alleged that the three family members hurled verbal abuses over a parking issue, and upon opening the door, began beating and threatening her.
Subsequently, local police arrived on the spot and took the brother and sister into custody on the complainant’s statement, while their mother fled, the FIR said.
In the FIR, the woman also claimed that the other side “snatched” her gold earring and two rings.
