Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA010331(4)

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background

Summary

A Hindu couple, Lakha Ram (60) and his wife Janti Mai (55), of Khanpur, District Rahim Yar Khan (south Punjab), were brutally murdered on 5 January 2001 when four armed assailants shot them in an apparent incident of burglary. A First Information Report (FIR) was logged on the same day at Sadar Police Station, Khanpur, but even after getting a trace of the crime from the blood-stained clothes of a culprit injured during the incident, the local police did not arrest any persons for the crime. The culprits are known to be influential, compared to the victims who belong to a minority.

Once again, the police have failed to be seen to act independently to provide redress to the victims from a minority community. All who commit crimes must be equally subjected to the law regardless of their influence in the society. Whether or not the victims have influence, justice must at least be seen to be done.

Please write polite letters to express your concern about the murder and the inaction of the authorities towards it. Request the authorities to:
1. arrest those responsible for the murder without delay and subject them to due process of law.
2. discipline police officials responsible for the delay, if these are found to have been in the wrong.

Sample Letter

Background

On the night of 5 January 2001, four armed men entered the house of Lakha Ram at Chak # 8/P Khanpur, District of Rahim Yar Khan (south Punjab) and asked to hand over the valuables. On resisting, the intruders killed him and his wife, Janti Mai. Their son, Dadu Ram, attacked one of the intruders with a spade and injured one of them. They shot and injured Dadu Ram, making him unconscious. The intruders then fled with their injured companion.

After the crime was reported to the police station and registered under section 460 of the Pakistan Penal Code (or PPC - "Murder or hurt caused by one of several persons jointly concerned in housebreaking by night, etc."), the police searched for the killers with the help of dogs. Clothes of the injured assailant were found in a trolley where they are believed to have hidden after changing. Owners of the trolley were arrested but the actual criminals are still at large. It is alleged that the police know who the people responsible for the incident are, but were not ready to take any action against them because they are influential persons related to local landlords. Applications to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Bahawalpur Division, and the Governor of Punjab have also been made, but no action has yet been taken up except for the asking for a report.

In this incident, the influential assailants pressured the police and impeded the due process of the law. Their victims are powerless and have to live with the lack of justice. It will not be surprising if more people will be using their influence to get away with their acts, and the less influential victims will continue to suffer if police inactivity to arrest continues.

Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for monitoring purpose.
Thank you for Your Continued Support!!