KARACHI: Police have arrested at least two suspects and opened an investigation after a graphic video showing a young man being beaten in Karachi's Defence Phase 8 neighborhood circulated online, authorities said.
The video shows the victim, identified as Ali Jafri, being beaten by three young men while pleading for forgiveness. He is also shown being struck with a stick and having his hair pulled, according to the footage.
South Deputy Inspector General Asad Raza said the alleged main suspect had been arrested and a second suspect was taken into custody Saturday. The case has been assigned to the Defence deputy superintendent of police.
Jafri told police he went to the Defence Housing Authority area with friends for a meal Aug. 29. He said that after leaving the restaurant, one of the suspects struck him on the head with a baseball bat, knocking him unconscious.
"After the blow, I became unconscious, and the suspects put me in a car and took me away," Jafri said.
He said he was assaulted at another location and that one of the suspects pointed a pistol at him. He also said the men repeatedly forced him to apologize, demanded money and threatened to harm his family. Jafri alleged the suspects also used money from his bank account to make purchases.
Police registered a case at Sahil police station based on Jafri's complaint. Five people, including two unidentified suspects, have been named in the case, which includes charges related to harassment, kidnapping and making death threats, police said.
According to police sources, Jafri was first taken to the Bukhari area by a man identified as Ibrahim Malik before being moved to another location within Sahil police station's jurisdiction. The suspects allegedly beat him with sticks, breaking his leg, the sources said.
Sources also alleged that Jafri was forced to eat his own hair after it was cut and was made to verbally abuse himself.
People close to Jafri said he was left frightened and shaken by the incident and did not immediately report it to police.
Raza said he ordered the investigation after the video surfaced online. Police said they are using the footage to identify everyone allegedly involved.
Meanwhile, Malik's family has sought reconciliation with Jafri. Family members said Malik and the other young men involved were friends who attended the same school. They said the dispute began over a sum of between 60,000 and 70,000 rupees and that some of those involved were 15 or 16 years old. The family appealed against legal action being taken against the minors and said they planned to visit Jafri's home to seek a settlement.
The family said Malik is about 22 years old and that his father disowned him two years ago.
Police said Malik, another suspect identified as Ibrahim Sathi, and others allegedly connected to the assault have been absent from their homes since the incident. One of the young men allegedly involved is reportedly a resident of the Khayaban-e-Ghalib area.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the investigation is ongoing.
