Arrested Kashmore ‘rapist’ shot dead by accomplice

Sindh govt seeks awards for ASI Buriro, his daughter for their bravery in rescuing child

KARACHI/HYDERABAD:

The prime suspect arrested for kidnapping and gang-raping a woman and her five-year-old daughter was shot dead during a police raid in Kashmore Kandhkot on Friday evening, while in police custody.

According to the police, Rafiq Malak was shot by Khairullah Bugti, another suspect. The police said they raided a place near RD-109 area to arrest Bugti but he opened fire on the police. The law enforcers, who claimed they took Malak to identify Bugti, arrested the latter and seized his weapon.

Wahab lauds ASI, daughter

Meanwhile, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab lauded ASI Mohammad Bux Buriro and his daughter for "bravely and courageously" helping trace and arrest Malak. Buriro's daughter had assisted in luring Malak into a trap by acting as bait. The suspect had earlier released the victim, T*, telling her he would only let her daughter go if she brought him another woman. Addressing a press conference, Wahab announced the Sindh government would write to the Centre, requesting the Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal for Buriro and the highest civilian award for his daughter.

He said the police official would also be given a gallantry award by Sindh. He remarked, "ASI Buriro, led by the Kashmore SSP, carried out the operation [for Malak’s arrest] with great valour. I am short of words to pay tribute to this brave man." He also saluted ASI Buriro's daughter for her "exemplary courage and bravery." Sharing the details of the suspect's arrest, he said ASI Buriro had immediately shifted T, who approached him with the complaint of her and her daughter being sold and gang-raped, to his house. His daughter then talked to the suspects on the phone who called her to a park, where ASI Buriro, along a police party, arrested one of Malak, Wahab narrated.

"Tracing them would have been very difficult had it not been for Buriro's bravery.” He said T and her daughter were being treated at Civil Hospital, Larkana, and assured that the Sindh government would arrange for the child’s treatment anywhere in the world if needed. "The government will also bear her educational expenses."

Child protection bureau

Separately, Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf leader Haleem Adil Sheikh condemned the incident and demanded that the Sindh Child Protection Bureau be made active. Talking to the media in Sukkur, he said the rape was "extreme cruelty." "The culprits should be tried under the Zainab Act and making the Sindh Child Protection Bureau active is crucial," Sheikh said, adding that growing number of child rape cases was worrisome. Also lauding ASI Buriro, he remarked, "We are proud of him and he has set an example of humanitarianism."

*INITIAL USED TO PROTECT IDENTITY