Case registered over desecration of minor's grave

Authorities in Rawalpindi confirmed that the grave of a seven-year-old girl, buried two days earlier in Khan Colony graveyard on Girja Road, had been desecrated.

Under the supervision of a magistrate, the grave was exhumed, and a medical board collected tissue and other samples from the body for DNA and forensic analysis.

According to officials, there were no apparent marks of torture or injuries on the child's body. However, police said a case has been registered for desecration of the grave and tampering with the remains.

The deceased girl was a resident of Girja Chowki.

She died on August 26 and was buried in Khan Colony cemetery.

On Thursday morning, her father went for fateha and found the grave dug up, with the shroud lying in a nearby house.

Following the report, CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani took notice and directed legal action from all angles.

SHO Dhamyal Malik Israr and other police officers reached the scene, secured the site without disturbing evidence, and sought court permission for exhumation and medical examination.

The exhumation began at 10:30am Friday under a magistrate's supervision, with SP Saddar Nabeel Khokhar present.

Sources said that as soon as digging began, the child's head and part of the body became visible, suggesting the grave had been refilled in haste. The lower body was found under stone slabs, and the shroud was missing.

Police officials said the body had begun to decompose due to three days in the grave, but no external injuries were visible.

After collecting samples, the body was reburied.

SP Saddar Nabeel Khokhar said that the samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Agency for DNA and forensic testing.

He confirmed that grave tampering had been established, and a case has been registered against unidentified suspects for desecration. He added that investigations are underway to trace and arrest the culprits.