Man allegedly rapes step-daughter for three years

Suspect filmed heinous act to blackmail victim

LAHORE:

A man has been booked on Monday for sexually assaulting his teenage step-daughter for three years in Defence A area.

The arrested suspect has been identified as Nadeem Chaudhry. Police said that the man had contracted a marriage with a widow a few years back who had a daughter from her first husband.

The suspect had been sexually assaulting the minor girl for three years and threaten her of dire consequences the victim girl if she spoke to anyone.

When the girl’s mother came to know about the gruesome act of her husband, she filed for divorce. However, the suspect started hurling death threats to his wife and the minor rape victim.

He again sexually assaulted the victim and also made filmed the act with his cell phone to intimidate the victim mother and her daughter.

Police have arrested the suspect and registered a case against him.

Sexual offences against women are rampant in the society. For last few days, a large number of sexual harassment cases are being reported in the provincial capital.

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IGP Inam Ghani taking notice of these incident has issued orders to set up "Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells" to curb crimes against women across the province. The Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells will ensure the prevention of crimes against women and the investigation of cases on merit.

In "Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells", the lady police officer will act as the Victim Support Officer.

After the establishment of Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells, a full-fledged campaign should be launched for their promotion, Ghani said. The decision has been taken in a high-level meeting that was attended by Additional IG Special Branch Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh, Additional IG Operations Punjab Sahibzada Shehzad Sultan, DIG Operations Punjab Sohail Akhtar Sukhera, AIG Operations Syed Zeeshan Raza including other officers and all RPOs of the province participated through video link.

Ghani directed all the RPOs of the province to ensure the establishment of "Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells" within a week in the districts under their administration and also launch a full-fledged publicity campaign for these special cells for public awareness.

He further said DIG Operations Punjab would closely monitor the establishment of Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cell in all the districts of the province within the stipulated timeline while DIG Investigation Punjab would monitor every case registered in these cells and also focus on monitoring of the speedy investigation on merit so that the accused involved in gender crimes, especially dangerous habitual offenders, can be convicted and sentenced by the courts.

He further said these Victim Support Officers will liaise with the affected women and be present with them during the investigation and trial hearing and will also provide assistance to the affected women on matters related to the case during the hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2021.