At least 24 prisoners had died due to torture in the custody of Punjab police during the last year.
In the first 15 days of the current year, two persons lost their lives in the police custody, the police sources have said. Last year, the highest number of deaths, 4, was in Lahore, whereas, no death was reported in the entire Dera Ghazi Khan region. Four deaths were also reported in Sheikhupura, Faisalabad and Sargodha each. During the current year, one death was reported in Lahore and Bahawalpur each.
The former Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) had ordered the district police chief to be held responsible for the deaths in police custody. Usually, the junior officers are nominated in cases upon the deaths of the accused in custody.
In most of such cases, the employees have been reinstated after the completion of a formal inquiry.
The Punjab IGP has taken a strict notice of the deaths of the accused in custody across Punjab including Lahore, the police sources have claimed.
He has also ordered the registration of cases against the officers responsible for the deaths, they have added.
