Main rape suspect to be presented before the court of the area magistrate. PHOTO: FILE
The rape victim was so frustrated with the unresponsiveness of the police that she immolated herself – and died later from her burn injuries.
Two other policemen against whom action was ordered are still at large.
The detained policemen – including two station house officers (SHOs) Idress and Rai Shahid and investigating officer Rana Zulfiqar – were apprehended under the Anti-Terrorism Act and will be presented before the court on Monday (today).
Two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar and Latif Khanju had not been arrested till the filing of this report.
On Sunday, the police also rounded up the main suspect Nadir Hussain, who was earlier declared innocent, and presented him before the court of the area magistrate. The police secured his three-day judicial remand for further investigation and recovery of ammunition.
The authorities have, however, failed to apprehend the other accused.
The Jatoi police station’s SHO and Investigating Officer Arshad Khan told The Express Tribune that the clothes worn by the deceased victim A* and Nadir Hussain on the day of the incident – were sent to labs in Lahore for DNA test.
“The situation will get clearer after we receive the report of the tests,” he said, adding that the investigation process was being supervised by the IG Investigation Khalid Luk.
Apex court to resume hearing case
The Supreme Court will also resume the hearing of the case today. The apex court on Friday took suo motu notice of the death of the rape victim, who had set fire to herself on March 13 in front of the Mir Hazar Khan police station after hearing that the suspects who had allegedly raped her were granted bail.
As per the court’s directive, Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Punjab Khan Baig and Muzaffargarh’s District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Muhammad Abid will appear before the court and present the record of investigation, medico-legal certificate and the report of the release of the accused.
Following the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice and the visit of the Punjab CM, the Bait Mir Hazar Khan police station has been sealed under tight security and even media persons are not allowed any access.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2014.
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