Woman ‘lured for medicine, raped’ in Punjab town

Three hours later, suspect dropped her back at the main gate of Allied Hospital and fled, say police

SHEIKHUPURA:

A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted on pretext of getting her medicine from a medical store on Tuesday in Punjab’s Kharianwala town.

The complainant told police that she went to the Allied Hospital to buy medicine with her 22-year-old daughter.

She told police that Nabil Ahmed came to her and said he will bring her medicine from a medical store. She sent her young daughter with the suspect who took her to a secluded place and allegedly raped her.

The complainant further said the suspect left her at the main gate of Allied Hospital three hours later and fled.

Police registered a case against suspect Nabil Ahmed under Sections 376 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) after inquiry and started searching for the suspect.

Cases where women are sexually assaulted on pretext of help and fake promises are not uncommon in the district.

On September 5, a woman was sexually assaulted on a pretext of promise of marriage and dinner.

Also read: Two women lured with job offer, raped in Dijkot

Reportedly, the suspect identified as Fahad Arshad, the son of Muhammad Arshad and a resident of Sadhupura along with his accomplice called his girlfriend to a hotel on the pretext of having dinner.

When the victim reached the hotel near Lorry Ada, the suspect Fahad took her to a room he had booked where he allegedly sexually harassed her. When the victim resisted, Fahad allegedly threatened to kill her and sexually assaulted her. He later dropped her home.

The victim told police that the accomplice identified as constable Ghufran of Chowki Lorry Ada had also threatened the victim to remain silent over the rape incident.

Civil Lines police arrested Ghufran, Fahad and the hotel manager named Tanveer Ahmed, the son of Khushi Mohammad and a resident of Chak No 68JB. A case had been registered against the three suspects under Section 376 PPC and further investigation was underway. Meanwhile, the city police officer suspended the constable who was allegedly involved in the rape incident.