Punjab Police. Photo (file)
LAHORE:
A video showing a civilian chained to a bed at a police post in Lahore’s Model Town Division sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompting action by senior police officials.
Police sources confirmed that the video, which surfaced online on Monday, was recorded three days earlier at the Lakhoki police post.
The footage shows a man restrained with chains and tied to a charpoy, raising serious questions about custodial practices at the facility.
The detainee was later identified as Mukhtar Ahmed, a resident of Kiraka village.
Police officials said Mukhtar had been kept in custody for five days on allegations of theft. However, authorities said no prior criminal record of the man has been found so far.
Following the emergence of the video, DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran took notice of the incident and ordered strict departmental action.
The in-charge of the Lakhoki police post, Sub-Inspector Adnan Virk, was suspended with immediate effect, while instructions were issued to register a criminal case against him.
In addition, SHO Kahna Asad Abbas was served a show-cause notice, and the SP Model Town was directed to submit a detailed report explaining the lapse.
A spokesperson for the DIG Operations said that keeping suspects at police posts is a clear violation of standard operating procedures.
He clarified that detainees can only be held at designated police stations and not at check posts or police pickets.
“Detaining a suspect at a police post is illegal. Any arrested person must be kept at the relevant police station under proper legal procedures,” the spokesperson said, adding that strict accountability would be ensured at all levels.
The spokesperson further stated that action had been initiated over the illegal detention and that senior officers would also face accountability for failure to monitor the police post effectively.
