G-B court takes action on gang rape report

Employee of public works department allegedly tricked a girl from remote village with promises of getting her a job.

GILGIT:

Following the alleged gang rape of a girl in Skardu a few weeks ago, Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Supreme Appellate Court (SAC) on Friday took suo motu notice of the issue directing the regional police chief to submit a detailed report before the court on Monday.

An employee of the public works department (PWD) Macha Hassan allegedly tricked a girl from a remote village with promises of getting her a job and took her, along with her brother, to Skardu, where she was subjected to gang rape.

The victim and the accused belong to Rondu, a town situated between Skardu and Gilgit.

In Skardu, the accused arranged the victim’s stay at a local hotel where she was assaulted by some “influential persons” for five days.

After the ordeal, the victim’s brother took her back to their village.

However, when news of her rape spread in the village, sources said, the accused threatened to kill the victim if she spoke to anyone. “The girl claims she can recognise at least eight of the rapists if they are paraded before her,” sources told The Express Tribune.

Superintendent Police (SP) Skardu Sultan Azam said five of the accused have been arrested, including the prime accused, and an investigation is under way.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2011.