Pakistan Pakistan: SHO, who beat Hindu shopkeepers for allegedly violating Ramzan ordinances, suspended
Islamabad: Station House Officer (SHO) Kabil Bhayo of the Khanpur police station in Pakistan was suspended after he allegedly tortured, harassed, manhandled and arrested Hindu shopkeepers for “violating the Ramzan Ordinance” by eating.
In a video that went viral on social media, the police officer was seen roaming the Ghotki district with a stick in his hands, using it to hit shoppers including Hindu men who were reportedly preparing biryani for delivery orders in the local market, reported The Express Tribune.
"I swear that I belong to the Hindu community, and he is taking away food. We do not run the dining service indoors during Ramzan,” a man who was arrested by the police told the newspaper.
The SHO publicly forced the Hindu restaurant owner to take an oath on his sacred book.
The police officer reportedly arrested more than one dozen people after physically assaulting them.
The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) later took notice and wrote to the deputy inspector general (DIG) Sukkur and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ghotki to take action against the police officer.
"The act is a violation of fundamental rights of citizens regardless of their religion and beliefs and goes against Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees the freedom to profess and manage religious institutions,” a letter issued by the SHRC stated.
