The Sindh police paid tribute to an ASI and his daughter, who played a key role in rescuing a child who had been abducted, sold and gang-raped in Kashmore, at the Central Police Office in Karachi on Monday.
Meanwhile, the four-year-old survivor faced complications on Monday as treatment for her wounds continues in the intensive care unit at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
The child, who was recovered through the efforts of the police, especially ASI Muhammad Bux Buriro and his daughter last week, remains in unstable condition.
T*, a resident of Karachi and her minor daughter were kidnapped and sold to accused Khairullah Bugti by another man , Rafiq Malak, who lured her to Kashmore on the pretext of a job. The men also gang-raped T and her daughter, only letting the woman go while telling her that her daughter would be released if she brought them another woman from Karachi.
T approached the Kashmore police and Buriro’s daughter, Reshma, contacted Malak and set up a meeting where the police managed to arrest him.
With the arrest, the police were able to recover the four-year-old child and identify other perpetrators of the crime. Malak was, however, shot down during a police raid later when he was in police custody, while Bugti, who reportedly shot him, was arrested.
The ASI and his family also provided refuge and care to T for 10 days.
Senior officials queued up to salute Buriro and Reshma, who were brought to the CPO in a horse-drawn buggy, with a marching band and mounted police officials leading the way for the festivities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Reshma, said that she decided to join the police operation after hearing the woman’s cries for her child. She resolved that she had to help recover the girl even if it cost her her own life. Reshma, an aspiring doctor, appealed to parents to safeguard their children and not trust anyone when it came to their children.
Buriro, meanwhile, told the attendees that the Reshma had asked him to not carry his pistol when they went to meet the accused as he gets emotional easily. It was fortunate that they were able to arrest the accused rapist without a problem, he said.”I would have shot the suspect dead on the spot or cut him to pieces if the victim had been recovered earlier.”
Kashmore SSP Amjad Shaikh lauded Buriro for not only acting bravely but also breaking cultural barriers to apprehend the accused. Women in Kashmore do not leave their houses for employment and they don’t join the police force even when there are vacancies for female officers, he said.
Saluting Reshma’s courage and what she did to recover the victim, Sindh IGP Mushtaq Mahar also announced a prize of Rs2 million for her family.
The department will recommend Buriro for the Tamgha-e-Shujaat [Medal of Bravery] and Reshma for the Sitara-e-Imtiaz [Star of Excellence] awards, said Mahar.
Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab also lauded the ASI and his daughter and thanked them for their compassion. He announced the Sindh government would bear Reshma’s education expenses.
Wahab added that the provincial government will work with the police for legislation on sexual violence.
Cricketer Yasir Shah also announced a cash reward for the ASI and his family.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2020.
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