FAISALABAD: A team of Rodala Road police was attacked by dozens of villagers on Wednesday when they raided a house in Chak 283-GB to recover a kidnapped woman.
Parents of the girl, Maria*, had earlier filed a writ of habeas corpus in the Lahore High Court (LHC). Justice Aalia Neelum had directed the Rodala Road police to recover her.
The police team reached the village and found her at one of the houses. When they tried to take her with them, she raised an alarm and the villagers gathered there. They assaulted the policemen and took her away.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a police spokesman said that the Rodala Road SHO had dispatched a police party to Chak 283-GB to find Maria, daughter of Sadar Deen.
“When the police team took the girl into custody, her in-laws put up resistance. They also called their neighbours for help. Dozens of villagers then thrashed ASI Muhammad Arshad, ASI Zafar Iqbal and Constable Zahoor Ahmad. They snatched cash, mobile phones, watches and other valuables from them. They took away the girl. The policemen had to flee to save their lives,” he said.
Rodala Road police have registered a case against 27 nominated and 20 unidentified suspects. No arrest has been made so far.
*The name has been changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2014.