Four die in Peshawar police's custody during last one year.

PESHAWAR -- Following four custodial deaths in the last one year, the capital city police have installed closed-circuit television cameras inside the lockups of all local police stations, provided them with lifesaving drugs, and trained staff members to prevent the demise of detainees.

The police officials told Dawn that custodial deaths were reported in the lockups of the University Town, Agha Mir Jani, Hashtnagri and Khan Razik Shaheed police stations.

They said first aid training had also been imparted to the clerks of all police stations by the Services Hospital doctors.

The officials said the video surveillance of lockups, provision of lifesaving drugs, and training of the police stations' employees were meant to prevent death of the accused in detention.

They said orientation sessions were held for the clerks of police stations to tackle untoward incidents in lockups, while healthcare emergency numbers were displayed at prominent places inside police stations.

Officials say CCTV cameras, lifesaving drugs in police stations to prevent such deaths

The officials said the police registered FIRs of custodial deaths and ordered judicial inquiries into them.

According to them, Fida Mohammad detained on the charge of mobile phone theft died in the Agha Mir Jani Shah police station lockup on Nov 26, 2018, leading to the registration of a case against the then SHO, inspector Ebad Wazir, and his gunner, Rahat Shah.

However, the family of the deceased made a compromise with the police officer and thus, leading to the disposal of the case by the court of law.

On Sept 2, 2019, Imranullah was found dead at the University Town police station.

The officials said a judicial inquiry revealed that the accused was a drug addict, who died a natural death and that no foul play was involved in the death.

On Oct 11, 2019, Syed Ajmal Shah held for theft in the Lady Reading Hospital died at the Khan Raziq Shaheed police station.

The detainee had allegedly stolen a nurse's purse and was identified by the hospital security staff through a CCTV camera footage...