Two women die in Lahore police custody after theft arrest

Two young women suspected of petty theft died in Lahore police custody on Tuesday, according to initial reports cited by Dawn, raising serious questions about how they were handled after being taken to police stations in the city.

The women were first brought to Township police station after a local resident accused them of taking cash and gold jewellery from his house. One of the suspects was later moved to Lytton Road police station. Police said both women’s condition worsened while they were in custody, though the cause had not been confirmed in the available feed details.

What police said

A spokesperson for the investigation police said the women died while in the custody of the operations wing police, pointing to calls made to Rescue 1122 to transfer them to hospital. Operations DIG Faisal Kamran told Dawn that one of the women fainted at Township police station and the other at Lytton Road police station.

He said both were taken to hospitals immediately, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

The complainant, Zeeshan Latif, told police in the FIR that the women entered his home and asked his wife for water. He alleged that while his wife went to get water, the women took gold ornaments and Rs5,000 in cash. He further said the women were caught by locals, beaten, and then handed over to police.

Questions remain over custody handling

The available information does not establish why the women died. DIG Kamran said the deaths may have been caused by a drug overdose, but the feed does not indicate that this had been medically confirmed. Police said the matter was still under review.

The incident came at a tense moment for Lahore police, who were already facing scrutiny following another serious allegation reported the same day involving a police official in Ghaziabad. That separate case, however, is not connected to the custody deaths in Lahore.

The case has drawn attention because the suspects were in police custody when their condition deteriorated and they were later pronounced dead by hospital doctors. Further findings would be needed to determine what happened before they reached the hospitals.

Why the case matters

Deaths in police custody often trigger public concern because they raise questions about safety, medical response, and accountability. In this case, the confirmed details are limited, but the sequence of arrest, transfer between stations, and emergency hospital referrals is already under scrutiny.

Dawn reported the matter as it developed, with police officials offering an initial account while the cause of death remained unverified.

FAQ

What were the women suspected of?

Police said they were suspected of stealing cash and gold jewellery from a house in Lahore.

Were the deaths officially explained?

No. Police mentioned a possible drug overdose, but the feed does not show that as a confirmed cause.

Where did the women die?

They were taken from police stations to hospitals, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.