CHINIOT: A departmental probe is underway into allegations of highhandedness against seven policemen, including to assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) of Rajoa police station, who allegedly took away around Rs0.3 million cash from a petrol pump and kidnapped two of the employees.

As per the complainant, later they released the employees but kept a major portion of the amount and were threatening him of dire consequences for taking legal action against them.

According to Irfan, the owner of a petrol pump on Aminpur Road near Chak No 139-JB, his employees Nasir Ali and Usman Ali were counting cash on May 26, when Rajoa police ASI Mazhar Sial arrived there in a private car. He was soon joined by another ASI, Qazi Ijaz, who was in a police patrolling vehicle, along with five constables.

Irfan alleged that the policemen snatched Rs295,000 cash from his employees, hurled abuses, slapped them and bundled them into the police vehicle. He said the policemen took the both employees to Rajoa police station and detained them in the lockup.

The petrol pump owner called Rescue 15 officials, who expressed their inability to “interfere” into the matter and suggested him to file a complaint on Punjab IGP office helpline 1787.

Irfan said that soon after filing a complaint on the helpline the Rajoa police officials released both employees, but returned only Rs95,000.

He alleged that the accused ASIs, Mazhar and Qazi Ijaz also threatened to implicate him and his employees in fake cases if he again lodged a complaint about the remaining cash.

Irfan says he lodged complaints with Rajoa SHO and investigation SP concerned against their subordinates, but to no avail so far.

Finally, the petrol pump owner lodged a writ petition against the policemen in the court of district and sessions judge under section 22-A and 22-B for recovery of the remaining amount.

Mohsin Hassan, spokesperson for the district police, said the investigation SP has ordered a probe into the matter, while District Police Officer (DPO) Abdullah Ahmad will personally hear the complainant and if found guilty the accused policemen would be proceeded against to restore the confidence of businessmen in the police.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2024