SIALKOT
A labourer was allegedly tortured by the contractor and the latter’s companions for demanding wages. The accused also shaved his head, eyebrows and mustaches besides smearing his face with black oil.
The incident took place in village Harrar-Uggoki in outskirts of Sialkot city. Village Qila Ahmedabad based Ghulam Farid told newsmen that he was a painter by profession and does the labour of painting and white washing of the houses and other buildings along with the local contractor Iqbal.
He added that on the day of the incident, he demanded his wages amounting Rs2,500 from the contractor. Instead of paying him his wages, the contractor and his other companions tortured him brutally, shaved his head, eyebrows and mustaches, besides, smearing his face with black oil, he alleged.
He said that he had submitted a complaint with the Uggoki police station for the registration of a case against the accused. However, the police officials said that they have not received any application by the victim for the registration of a case. They said that stern legal action would be taken against the accused after receiving application.
Meanwhile, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) voiced against the rising crime incidents in Sialkot city.
SCCI President Mansur Ahmed expressed grave concern over the rising incidents of dacoity and robbery in Sialkot while local traders, industrialists and exporters are being targeted by the criminals. He said that the outlaws commit dacoities in their houses in export-oriented Sialkot city.
He mentioned that a major dacoity incident took place at the house of Sialkot-based exporters Mehar Tariq and Mehar Saleem in Model Town, a few yards away from the police check-post Model Town.
He said that the police personnel deputed at check-post were timely informed about the major dacoity by the grieved family, but the policemen reached there with an inordinate delay due to which the dacoits managed to escape after looting gold ornaments, cash, electronics and other valuables worth Rs2 million.
He said that the bandits could have been arrested if the police had timely reached there while the police adopted traditional delaying tactics in reaching there. He termed it a matter of grave concern. He revealed that it was the sixth to seventh major dacoity incident against local traders and exporters in Sialkot city during the last few days due to failure of the police.
He demanded early arrest of the culprits directly or indirectly involved in the crimes. He also asked the police officials to take necessary preventive measures in a bid to avert such incidents in future.