BAHAWALNAGAR: Villagers staged a protest in Berowala against a landlordonSaturdayforsexual torture of a labourer and issuing threats to him and his family for withdrawing the case.

The protesters told Dawn that on May 25, Shahbaz demanded his money from the landowner, identified as Ahmed Ali, at which the latter lost his temper. He allegedly got Shahbaz abducted by his six armed men, including Saeed, Kaleemullah, Hanif and Abdul Qadir.

The suspects took Shahbaz to the outhouse of Ahmed Ali and subjected him to physical and sexual torture with canes.

The police had shifted Shahbaz to the Bahawalnagar District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and registered a case against the suspects.

The victim has been discharged from the hospitalbut the medical report has not been issued yet.

Later on, Ahmed All started pressuring Shahbaz to withdraw the police case registered against him while issuing threats to him and his family with dire consequences.

The victim and his family have appealed to the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of the incident.

Investigation Officer Mahmood Ahmed said the accused were on bail and further action would be taken against them in the light of the medical report.

HOSPITALISED: Seven members of a family of Chal( Dhuddina were hospitalised on Saturday after eating toxic meal.

District Health Officer (emergency) Dr Sohail said Arshad, 40, Naziran Bibi, 40, Shaheen, 25, Faiz Elahi, 20, Abu Bakar, 7, Sidra, 5, and Tayyab, 3, were being treated at the Chishtian Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital.