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Friday, 12th March 2010

Nightmare on South Street

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Published Date: 23 October 2006
by KALIPH ANAZ

A Rochdale grandmother has suffered a massive heart attack after police officers launched a "Forest Gate style" raid at her home in South Street to trace a "firearm".

The botched up operation occurred on 4 October at 2.30 pm. The search took place after a tip off from an anonymous caller.
Fatima Wazoor, 55, a mother of five and a grandmother of eight, was preparing for afternoon prayers when the police officers barged into her terraced house at South Street, Wardleworth.
Fatima, a devote Muslim and observing dawn to dusk fast in the holy month of Ramadan, was shocked to see a group of officers entering her home by smashing the front door in.
"I thought they were burglars in police uniform," Fatima told Asian Leader in an exclusive interview from her hospital bed at Rochdale Royal Infirmary.
"They forced me to sit on the sofa and refused to make any phone calls. I am a mother of five children and I can't even imagine officers look younger to my eldest son would behave like this. I am praying Allah to forgive them for what they did to me."
Fatima, who is not fluent in English, was alone at home when the raid took place. A Pakistani officer joined as an interpreter later. There was no female officer present during the raid.
Zabir Shah, 33, Fatima's eldest son and the managing director of 24 x 7, said the police failed to do their homework properly to launch the raid.
The family has accused the police of destroying wardrobes, walls and many interior installations. They are planning to file a complaint to get a proper apology and compensation from the police.
The family was also forced to destroy foodstuff stored in the fridge and freezer after the police officers let the search dog to touch the items.
The police issued a statement contradicting some of the allegations of the family.
The police said: "Before officers began the search, the occupant of the property requested that some of her family members be present. Officers did not search the property until they arrived."
Wazir Shah, former deputy leader of the Rochdale Council and a relative of Fatima, said "the police must take necessary precautions to avoid similar situations."
The Liberal Democrat leader said a formal apology from the police could heal the wounds.

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  • Location: Rochdale
 
 
 

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