Woman alleges sexual assault by vendors

A woman has accused two local vendors of abducting her and subjecting her to sexual assault, harassment, and threats after she purchased vegetables and chicken on credit. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.

According to the complaint, the victim, identified as M A, from Sudhnuti, Azad Kashmir, had been buying vegetables from vendor A S and chicken from vendor Z A on credit. She alleged that both men began harassing and humiliating her with persistent phone calls.

The woman stated that while shopping at Raja Bazaar, Z A persuaded her to accompany him to a hotel room on Liaqat Bagh Road, citing his wife's ill health. Upon arrival, he allegedly locked the door, threatened her when she asked about his wife, and also snatched her cell phone. She claimed she lost consciousness and, upon regaining awareness, found herself naked with the vendor nearby.

"When I tried to raise an alarm, he threatened me, saying he had taken photos and videos of me and that if I caused a commotion, he would circulate them among my family. I pleaded desperately for mercy, begging for my life, but Z A reportedly said that the ordeal was far from over and ordered me to remain silent. I promised to stay quiet, yet he still refused to let me leave."

Later that night, the complainant added, there was a knock at the door. When it was opened, the vegetable vendor, A S, entered the room and began recording videos. He also threatened and harassed the victim, saying he would ruin her reputation and release the videos unless she paid Rs500,000. "I started crying and asked both men why they were doing this to me. They responded that they intended to settle their accounts with me, acting together in carrying out these threats," the woman further complained.

The victim further alleged that both men recorded indecent videos of her and threatened to share them with her family and on social media unless she paid a substantial sum.