Trans person kidnapped, tortured at gunpoint

Assailants allegedly used cigarettes, hot iron rods to torture victim

DEPALPUR:

A transgender person was allegedly abducted at gunpoint and subjected to torture in Haveli Lakha, Depalpur on Friday.

Police have arrested one suspect, while the main accused managed to escape. The victim revealed that cigarette burns and hot iron rods were used to inflict severe injuries.

Police said the transgender person was rescued in injured condition, while raids are underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

Tn the Haveli Lakha area, influential individuals, identified as Fayyazul Hassan Ladduka, Muhammad Owais, and Nazim allegedly kidnapped the transgender victim in broad daylight.

The incident occurred on Head Sulaimanki Road when the victim was traveling towards Bahawalnagar.

The accused reportedly forced the victim into their vehicle at gunpoint and took him to a dera at Bharpora Chowk, Baserpur, where they subjected him to torture.

The assailants allegedly burned the victim's body with cigarettes and hot metal rods.

The victim, Barish Ali alias Anjali, told Express that the influential men forcibly abducted them and took them to a deserted location near Bharpora Chowk.

"There, they subjected me to severe physical torture, burned me with cigarettes and hot iron, and inflicted psychological trauma," the victim said. He added that the incident occurred because he had refused to engage in an illegal act demanded by the accused.

Following the attack, police recovered the victim and shifted him to the THQ Hospital Haveli Lakha for treatment.

The victim appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and senior authorities to ensure a transparent investigation and strict legal action against the perpetrators.

"I request the authorities to ensure justice and guarantee the safety, dignity, and protection of transgender persons," the victim said.

Upon receiving information, a heavy contingent from Haveli Lakha Police Station reached the scene and recovered the victim. While one suspect was arrested, the prime accused fled from the area.

Transgender community members protested the incident and demanded immediate action from the chief minister.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.

Earlier in April, an armed men tortured and attempted to kidnap a transgender woman in public in the Daniwal area in Vehari. After a video of the incident surfaced on social media, the police arrested the suspects.

According to police officials, Rana Phool and Rana Moon, along with their friends, had tortured the transgender person in public at a road intersection, cut her hair and tried to kidnap her.