Police authorities in Punjab acknowledged before the Supreme Court on Friday that a Christian couple was burnt alive in the presence of police officials on November 4.
In compliance with the Supreme Court’s order, DPO Kasur Jawwad Qamar through IG Punjab police submitted a report in the Supreme Court over the Kot Radha Kishan incident. The Christian couple was burnt alive in a brick kiln for allegedly desecrating pages of the Holy Quran. A copy of the report is available with The Express Tribune.
According to the report, Muhammad Ali SI, Abdul Rasheed ASI and other police officials were riding in a patrol vehicle on Adda Manga Road when they received information that a mob gathered at Yousaf Gujjar’s brick kiln in Chak No 59 were torturing a family of the Christian community.
When the police reached the spot they found 500 to 600 people gathered there. The policemen said that though they tried to stop the mob from damaging the brick kiln’s roof, they were beaten back and even tortured by the mob.
In the meantime, the mob apprehended Sajjad Masih and Saima and tortured them in the presence of police as well as Iqbal Masih, Shahbaz Masih, sons of Nazir Masih, Imran Masih, the report said.
Police officials tried to secure their release but were thwarted. Then, in the presence of police officials and witnesses, seven nominated suspects namely Yousuf Gujjar, etc, along with 8-10 other people incinerated Sajjad Masih and Saima.
The report revealed that there were also 53 accused persons (nominated in FIR) who instigated and tortured the deceased persons as well as police officials.
“The accused created panic and religious hatred in the area. Hence a case FIR No 475, dated 4.11.2014 u/s 302/436/201/148/149/353/186 PPC & 7ATA has been registered at PS Kot Radha Kashan, it adds.
Some 43 people were arrested in connection with the case. Out of them, 39 were sent to judicial lock-up whereas, physical remand of the remaining four accused namely Yousaf Gujjar, Iftikhar Mahand, Muhammad Hussain and Haris Bashir was obtained from Anti-Terrorism Court, Lahore. These accused were interrogated and sent to judicial custody on November 11.
As per the statements of the witnesses, the report said, 81 more accused have been nominated. During the course of investigation, 16 more accused have been nominated.
A Joint Investigation Team (JIT), headed by SP investigation Kasur, has been constituted to probe the matter. Other members of the JIT are also working in Kasur district.
Efforts are being made to arrest the remaining accused. Investigation is in progress and the same will be finalised at the earliest.
Meanwhile, after going through the Punjab police’s report, the chief justice has decided to fix the matter before the bench and issued notices to the DPO and RPO.
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