Police fumble with probe into toddler's death

Despite formation of special investigation panel, no breakthrough has been made yet

RAWALPINDI:

The case of the alleged murder of a four-year-old boy, whose body was discovered in a pond nearly two months after he went missing, remains unsolved.

On November 24, Arshman went missing while attending a wedding with his mother in Mohra Ghhar near Hoshiyal in Rawat. A case of kidnapping was registered at the Rawat police station on the complaint of his uncle, Umar Rauf.

Two months later, the boy's body was found in a pond in the same area. The Rawalpindi police initially declared it an accidental death, saying the boy might have drowned while playing near the pond. But the boy's family and relatives rejected the police version, alleging that the police were trying to cover up the murder, and harassing them by demanding unnecessary documents, including the boy's birth certificate and marriage certificate of his parents.

They pointed out several discrepancies, including the fact that the boy had thick hair when he went missing, but his body was found bald. Moreover, the boy's pants were changed, and his body showed signs of being submerged in water for 12-15 days instead of two months.

Taking notice of the family's allegations, CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani formed a seven-member special investigation team, headed by SP Saddar Nabeel Khokhar, while the provision of Section 302 (murder) has been added to the case.

The team includes SDPO Saddar Dania Rana, HIU Rawat Incharge Inspector Zaheeruddin Babar, SHO Rawat Inspector Zahid Zahoor, former investigation officer of the kidnapping case Waseem Sarfraz, and experts from the IT lab and CIA.

The police team has been tasked with investigating the case from all angles. A detailed report has been sent to the Chief Minister of Punjab, who has taken notice of the case.

According to sources, the police team has expanded the scope of its investigation, examining all events from the boy's disappearance in November to the discovery of his body. They are investigating the house where the wedding took place, as well as the surrounding areas, to determine who was present in the area during that time.

The police are also reviewing the boy's route from his home to the wedding venue and back, including any CCTV cameras that may have captured footage of him. They are examining the records of these cameras to see if they can provide any clues.

The investigation has revealed that the location where the boy's body was found is quite far from the wedding venue, making it unlikely that the child could have ended up there on his own. This has raised suspicions that the boy's death may not have been an accident.

The police have also taken five suspects into custody for questioning, but no breakthroughs have so far been reported. On the other hand, following the Punjab Chief Minister's notice, the Rawalpindi police have sent a detailed report to the Punjab Chief Minister's Secretariat, outlining the progress made in the case.