Two held for teenager’s gang rape

The police arrested two alleged rapists on Thursday after a horrific video of assault and gang rape of teenage boy in Lyari surfaced on social media late Wednesday night.

Based on video evidence, the Kalri Police arrested two suspects, identified as Rizwan and Hakeem.

Kalri SHO Arshad Ali Khan told The Express Tribune that the video was dated. The police managed to trace the survivor with the help of community elders, who confirmed the teenager was gang raped some days ago. According to informed sources, the teenager was assaulted and raped at a house on Jumma Baloch Road near Old Truck Adda two weeks ago. Social pressure and influence of the perpetrators prevented the family and the survivor from reporting the assault.

The police believe the neighbourhood sheltered the rapists but are now cooperating with the investigation. "An FIR has [now] been lodged. We have arrested two men under Section 337 of the Pakistan Penal Code," said SHO Khan. Raids are being conducted to arrest the other suspects, he added.

In his statement to the police, the survivor said seven men assaulted him. Five of them raped him and another recorded the physical and emotional violence. In the traumatising video, which surfaced on Wednesday night, perpetrators are seen beating him with a stick as two men rape him.

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"This is a heinous crime and all men involved will be dealt with according to the law," said Lyari Assistant Commissioner Abdul Karim Memon, speaking to The Express Tribune. "It is a crime. Police will take stern action against the perpetrators of child abuse."

Memon said that the local community was cooperating with the police now.

"Police must trace, arrest and punish all the men involved," said a local activist. "Such incidents if not dealt with according to the law [only] encourage and enable further abuse." The activist demanded of the police and other organisations to raise awareness on sexual violence against young boys and child abuse.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2021.