In custody: Suspects rounded up over rape of a girl in Manawan area

Police say nobody has been taken into custody.

LAHORE: As Easter approaches, several Christians were arrested after one of the members of their community was accused of raping a Muslim girl in the Manawan police area.

One woman and 13 men were released from the custody of police through a court bailiff, while a family of four, including a man, his mother, sister and his brother in-law had been in police detention for two days, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday.

Amir Masih, his mother, sister and brother-in-law remained in police custody.

The police lodged an FIR on the complaint of brother of Saima* under Section 376 (Rape) and 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the four detained people.

He said Amir, in connivance of his family members, raped the victim and kept her detained at their house. The brother said they had been looking for the girl since 11am and came to know by evening that she was being detained at the neighbour’s house. He stated the girl was found tied with a rope and the residents had fled by the time.

A relative of the alleged rape victim, requesting anonymity for fear of a reaction, told The Express Tribune that the girl used to visit the house of Amir as the two had relations. He suspected the two were waiting for dark to elope and the girl’s family ultimately accused their neighbours to save honour.

Advocate Naseeb Anjum, belonging to the same area, told The Express Tribune that the police had arrested his sister, his brother-in-law, four of his nephews and eight other Christians who had nothing to do with this incident. He said after the filing of a petition in court, a bailiff was deputed and he recovered 14 detainees from the Manawan police station.

Investigation In-Charge Inspector Tariq Pervez of the Manawan Police Station told The Express Tribune that none of the accused have been arrested. He said the police party did not see the girl tied with ropes, but eyewitnesses had informed them of the incident.

They said the victim was sent for a medical examination and it managed to establish that a rape was committed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2017.