Police cells to tackle rising domestic violence

Punjab IGP announces establishment of anti-harassment centres, appointment of victim support officers

LAHORE:

Punjab Police have finally undertaken the task of tackling the issue of crimes against women, particularly domestic violence and sexual harassment in the metropolis and other areas of the province.

To address the plight of women, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani announced the establishment of anti-violence centres and the appointment of victim support officers in wake of the recent rise in issues of violent crimes targeting women.

Violence against women remained rampant in the provincial capital during the past week as over two dozen cases of alleged sexual assault and harassment and domestic violence were reported.

During the past week, Lahore police also held women’s safety and empowerment march.

DIG Investigations Shariq Jamal also raised the issue of the registration of fake cases. He further said that few complainants had registered rape cases with fake name and CNICs.

“In a few cases, those who reported the crime turned out to be history sheeters and had been challaned in cases. So the cases have to handled carefully”

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On September 2, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in Iqbal Town. The victim alleged that the suspect Hammad had lured her on promises of marriage. He had reportedly developed a relationship with her. The suspect also recorded the victim’s private videos and had been blackmailing her.

On September 1, two teenage girls were allegedly gang-raped by five suspects in Gujjarpura.

On the same day, three cases of domestic violence were also reported. The first case was reported in Shera Kot where a woman was subjected to severe tortured by her brothers-in-law. The second case was reported in Batapur where a woman’s head was shaved and she was tortured by her husband, brother-in-law and niece.

The third case was reported in Shahdara where the suspect Waqas after being drunk subjected his wife to severe torture. He burnt her body with a cigarette and also forced her to drink.

On August 31, a woman was sexually assaulted and filmed in Nawan Kot. The suspect Mohib had lured the victim to a place where he sexually assaulted the victim and also filmed. Another suspect Haris uploaded the video on the social media platform.

On the same day in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, a suspect was arrested a suspect for catcalling a woman. The arrested suspect had been identified as Shahzad. The victim was visiting Kareem Market with her relative. The suspect also passed remarks while harassing her.

On August 30, a man was booked for sexually assaulting his teenage stepdaughter for three years in Defence.

On August 29, a suspect was arrested in Ghaziabad for sexually assaulting a seven year old boy. The victim went to a nearby shop to buy milk. The suspect Ashfaq took him inside the shop and sexually assaulted him.

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On the same day, Model Town Investigations police arrested a suspect for sexually harassing a four-year-old girl.

Separately, a woman was allegedly gang-raped after being lured for a job in Sundar.

Moreover, a suspect was arrested by Iqbal Town police for eve-teasing on the day. The arrested suspect was identified as Faisal.

On August 28, a suspect attempted sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl in Hanjarwal.

Separately, a suspect was arrested for sexually harassing a woman in Shadman.

On August 27, a woman was allegedly gang-raped by a rickshaw driver and his two other accomplices in Garhi Shahu by holding her hostage on gunpoint.

However, the DIG investigations claimed that the registered case was contrary to facts. The complainant in the case had already registered eight cases. He further said that one suspect in the case had abducted the victim along with her daughter and forced her to make a call at helpline 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2021.