Brother of suspected pickpocket dies after alleged police torture.

HYDERABAD -- The wailing family members of a youth took his body to the local press club on Saturday to register their protest over alleged police torture leading to his death.

They said, Danish Shaikh, in his 30s, was a TB patient and daily wage earner. He was picked up by the Phulelli police on Oct 13 in lieu of his brother, Danial, an absconding suspect of petty crimes. Danish was later handed over to the Bhitai Nagar police and released two days later.

'Police torture aggravated his illness and he died this (Saturday) morning after having been let off,' alleged the bereaved family.

They said Danish was released on Oct 15 and since then his condition remained unstable as he was a tuberculosis patient.

The family resides in Jurial Shah Colony in Tando Mir Mahmood area within the jurisdiction of the Phulelli police station. He used to run his pushcart to deal in scraps. 'Danish was a TB patient. After being released, he told us he was beaten up by the policemen who were drunk,' said his maternal cousin, Naeem Shaikh, while speaking to journalists. He quoted Danish as telling his family that he was taken to some desolated place in the Jamshoro area where he was subjected to torture.

Naeem said he had filed an application before the Hyderabad DIG on behalf of Danish.

'Danish told us that he kept telling police he is sick and should not be beaten up but police didn't spare him. His condition aggravated ever-since he was let-off,' said Naeem. Danish's mother Ms Anwari and his sister Seema kept wailing beside his body, placed on the main road outside the press club.

The heirs had approached widely respected figure of Talpur family, Mir Rafiq Ahmed Talpur, who lived within their neighbourhood for help. 'Danish's heirs had approached me after he was picked up in lieu of Danial, who is absconding. The family lives behind my house,' Mr Talpur told Dawn.

Ms Anwari told...