Gang-rape victim blames cops for aiding her tormentors

Most of the accused released on bail after arrest

LAHORE: A minor girl who has accused some youths, including a policeman, of gang rape has alleged that police officials are not cooperating with her in pursuing the case.

“The police officials arrested some people but helped them get released on bail after taking bribe from them,” she alleged. She said two of the accused had not obtained bail but the officials were reluctant to arrest them.

Nishtar Town police arrested Constable Khuram, Bilal, Shafique, Zahid and Ashfaq but released them after bail. The girl alleged that police officials had given them the opportunity to get bail. She said one of the accused, Sheroz, is not being arrested although he had not obtained bail.

Police officials are making efforts to protect their colleague that is why no substantial development has occurred in the investigation, she added.

She said the accused had also recorded a video while raping her and threatened to run it on social media if she revealed the truth. She said she and her family were being threatened.

She said not only the accused but the police officials were also pressuring her family for reconciliation in the case.

The girl said she was trapped by giving her a message that her mother was calling her to the place where she worked.

A resident of her street, after giving her the message, took her to a house and gave her a drink which made her fall unconscious. When she regained senses  she saw a group of youths there, including a man wearing police uniform.

She asked about her mother, upon which they replied that she was coming to which they responded, her mother is coming. They then tied her hands and raped her, she said.

The FIR was registered six days later and police started arresting the accused.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Kahna DSP Syed Iqbal Hussain Shah denied the allegation of bribery. He said the investigation was being carried out on merit and the culprits would be brought to the book. He said the accused were on bail and police had conducted raids thrice at different places to arrest Sheroz but he had managed to escape.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2020.