Teen allegedly gang-raped by four men

A 14-year-old girl was gang-raped, while two women and three teenagers were raped and molested in the district in Saturday. Police registered cases against the named accused and launched raids to arrest them.

Police said in a case filed by Abdul Khaliq, a resident of Muhammadabad, it was stated that his 14-year-old daughter went to the market to buy grocery. On the way back, four accused, including Kamran, Salaman and Chhani, allegedly lured and abducted her from Qudratabad Chowk in a rickshaw and took her to Ghulam Muhammadabad 2, where they locked her in a room and threatened to kill her if she made any noise. Later that night, the suspect took the victim to some nearby fields and took turns gang-raping her. They later dumped her near Darbar Qaim Sain and fled.

The next morning, police found the victim unconscious. A case was registered against the named accused under the provisions of 365 B and 376 PPC and police began searching for them.

Meanwhile, Usman, a resident of Bilal Park Mohalla, allegedly entered a house in Ghulam Muhammadabad and raped the female occupant at gunpoint.

Separately in Tandlianwala town, two accused including Imran raped Badar Din’s wife, while in Chak No. 199 RB Gutwala, Hanif took Adnan's brother to his house and molested him. Meanwhile, Ali Shah took, Muhamad Shehzad’s 10-year-old nephew to his dera while he was on his way to fetch rice from his house and molested him.

In 363 GB, Zulfiqar's son, aged 16, was molested by two accused, including Mehmood, while grazing goats.

Police registered separate cases against the named accused under the provisions of 376 and 377 PPC and started searching for them.

Cases of sexual assault, both against minors and adults are not an uncommon phenomenon in Punjab. In July 2021, a 15-year-old girl was raped by her biological father. The victim, whose cousin reported the case to police, expressed concerns that her father would end up raping her 8-year-old sister.

Meanwhile in December 2021, a woman in Sheikupura was lured by a suspect to a secluded location under the guise of buying her medicine. The suspect then raped the woman, leaving her in front of Allied Hospital 3 hours later and leaving the scene.

Similarly in April 2022 in Khurrianwala, three men, including a property dealer, raped a woman under the pretext of showing her a house for rent. The property dealer invited the victim to his office to show her houses for rent. When she arrived, the woman was raped at gunpoint by the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2022.