Dolphin Squad foils abduction, rape attempt in Lahore's Liaquatabad area

Four armed men open fire at Dolphin Squad; one dies, remaining three escape

LAHORE:

An attempt to kidnap and sexually abuse a woman was foiled by the Dolphin Squad in Lahore's Liaquatabad area on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the squad said that a woman was traveling in a rickshaw when four armed suspects attempted to abduct the woman at gunpoint. The Dolphin team responded to a call and arrived at the scene. When the team arrived, the suspects opened fire.

During the exchange of fire, one of the accused - identified as Jahangir, against whom reportedly several cases of ariel firing and drinking have been registered - died. His accomplices, however, managed to escape.

The squad took the woman, named Mumtaz, into their custody and shifted her to Liaquatabad Police Station.

The driver of the rickshaw, Adil, said that the accused were trying to abduct the woman. He added that the accused had weapons and were intoxicated.

Meanwhile, Jahangir's family blocked Lahore's Peco Road in protest and demanded that the higher authorities take notice of the incident. They alleged that Jahangir was killed in a fake police encounter, adding that he was not involved in any suspicious activities.

Lahore Police Chief Muhammad Omar Sheikh, taking note of the incident, directed SSP Discipline Syed Amin Bukhari to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 72 hours.

Earlier today, President Dr Arif Alvi approved the government's "stringent" and "holistic" Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020 on Tuesday, to help expedite cases of sexual abuse against women and children.

Under this ordinance, special courts are to be set up across the country to expedite trials and cases of rape at the earliest. The courts are to deal with rape cases within four months.