Policeman killed, alleged rapist injured in Gilgit

Medical reports awaited in teenager’s rape case

GILGIT: A policeman was killed and an alleged rapist injured when a bullet hit them during interrogation at a check post in Sonikote, Gilgit Thursday night.

According to the police, Wasim Masih and Younus Masih had kept 15-year-old S* locked up in a house where they repeatedly raped him on Wednesday and Thursday.

“After learning about the situation, police raided the house, found the boy shackled and rescued him,” police spokesman Mubarak Jan told The Express Tribune on Friday. He added the victim was freed and brought to a check post in Sonikote—a residential area in Gilgit where a large number of Christians live—along with the accused for interrogation.

The victim narrated the story to the police and accused Wasim Masih and Younus Masih for raping him repeatedly. “S wept while narrating the ordeal,” Jan told The Express Tribune.

He said as the investigation went on, the accused attacked the police and attempted to snatch their gun. “During the struggle, the trigger was pulled and policeman Wazir Khan and one of the accused rapists, Younus, were both hit,” Jan added. Wazir died and the injured was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.

The medical test of the victim will be conducted to confirm whether or not the boy was raped.

Later on, the slain policeman was laid to rest in Gilgit. IGP Zafar Iqbal Awan and other senior police officials attended the funeral.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th,  2016.