Five police officials suspended after woman slapped in Bahawalpur

BAHAWALPUR: District Police Officer (DPO) Bahawalpur Rana Abdul Wahab has suspended five police officials, including a woman constable, after a video showing a woman being slapped circulated widely on social media.

According to police public relations officer Naeem Ahmed, the DPO acted after taking notice of the incident seen in the viral footage. He said suspension orders were issued for Constable Tayyaba and four other personnel from Abbasnagar Police Station over the alleged mistreatment of a woman identified as Najiba Bibi.

Officials said the incident took place when a revenue team went to Najiba Bibi’s house to have it vacated in connection with a legal dispute. A police contingent of five officials, including Constable Tayyaba, accompanied the revenue staff in support of the operation to compel the woman to leave the house.

According to the details shared by officials, the revenue and police teams encountered resistance when they tried to remove the occupants from the house by force. During the confrontation, Najiba Bibi threatened to set herself on fire.

It was during this episode that Constable Tayyaba allegedly slapped the woman. The incident, which took place in the presence of Najiba Bibi’s children, was recorded and the video quickly spread on social media, prompting official action.

The DPO has also ordered an inquiry into the conduct of the police personnel involved, with the proceedings focused on alleged misuse of authority.

Separate accident in Vehari

In a separate incident, a 60-year-old former serviceman, Abdul Majid, died after his motorcycle collided with a bus near Chak 429/EB on the Burewala-Chichawatni Road in Vehari.

Rescue 1122 said the body was shifted to THQ Hospital Burewala. Traffic police took the bus driver into custody following the accident.

The two incidents were reported separately, with the first involving disciplinary action against police personnel in Bahawalpur and the second concerning a fatal road crash in Vehari.