NAROWAL: Sialkot police on Sunday said they had arrested six suspects and registered a case after a stampede at a mehndi (henna) event, the deaths from which have risen to two.
TikToker Muhammad Ansar Jatt, known as “Mr Pattlo”, had announced holding a mehndi event and prize-distribution ceremony at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road on Friday night.
With hundreds gathered at the site, a stampede occurred when the stadium gates opened. While Rescue 1122 initially said one man had died and 13 others were injured, residents had put the number of injured higher because many were taken to nearby hospitals by attendees at the event.
On Sunday, Sialkot Police said 18 people were injured in the stampede. One of them succumbed to his injuries at a government hospital, taking the deaths to two, the public relations officer for the district police officer (DPO) confirmed.
Noting that Jatt had immediately fled the scene after the incident, police said their investigation and raid teams were conducting operations to apprehend the TikTok influencer.
The police statement added that they had taken 50 motorcycles and a car — intended for Friday’s lucky draw — into their custody.
Sialkot DPO Dost Muhammad confirmed the arrest of six individuals involved in managing the event.
He added that police teams have been constituted to apprehend the remaining suspects with the help of modern technology, human intelligence sources, and traditional policing methods.
The retired captain noted that according to preliminary police investigations, organisers had invited a large number of people by advertising a lucky draw featuring prizes such as motorcycles, a car and other valuable items via social media.
During the event, an announcement was made over the loudspeakers instructing all attendees to enter the grounds simultaneously. This simultaneous entry into the sports stadium triggered a severe stampede, the DPO said.
He stated that the organisers violated the terms of their permit, as well as established safety standard operating procedures (SOPs). The stampede also disrupted the flow of traffic on the main Daska-Sialkot Road.
Noting reports of unruly behaviour by attendees and damage to public and private property, DPO Muhammad emphasised that protecting citizens’ lives and property is the police’s primary responsibility.
“Negligence regarding safety arrangements at any public gathering or event which puts human lives at risk cannot be permitted,” he said.
The Sialkot DPO declared that legal action would be taken against all those responsible for the incident, without any discrimination.
NOC revoked
According to a spokesperson for the Sialkot district administration, a no-objection certificate (NOC) had been issued to the TikToker for holding a mehfil-i-samaa (a gathering for devotional music/poetry) during a private event within an enclosed space in Daska.
The spokesperson stated that the event was cancelled before it could even begin, due to violations of the stipulated terms and conditions. According to the spokesperson, the NOC specified that the programme was to commence after the Isha (night) prayers on Friday.
However, reports were received regarding alleged irregularities in the event arrangements by the organisers as early as 4pm.
Upon reviewing the reports, Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Awais Mushtaq took immediate preemptive action and revoked the previously issued NOC.
FIR registered
The first information report (FIR), dated Oct 31 and available with Dawnwas registered at the Motra Police Station on the complaint of Inspector Mubeen Ahmed.
The FIR names Jatt, his brother, the owner of Faraz Cricket Ground, and six others who were organisers of the event, as well as 40-45 unidentified security guards.
It invoked sections 322 (punishment for execution-bis-cause), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), and 109 (abetment if the act abetted committed in consequence) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), along with Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.
In the FIR, the inspector accused the suspects of violating the terms of the permit granted by the Sialkot district administration, as well as the established SOPs.
The alleged violations included the misuse of loudspeakers, the blocking of a main road, the vandalism of citizens’ motorcycles, and the infliction of loss of life and property.
The FIR noted that a large crowd managed to enter the Faraz Sports Stadium due to inadequate security arrangements at the venue.
According to the FIR, dozens of attendees at the mehndi and prize distribution ceremony reported that their mobile phones had gone missing and unidentified thieves picked their pockets, depriving them of cash and important documents.
Source: www.dawn.com
