Abducted infant found dead in well

Police rule out accidental fall, family members taken into custody

RAWALPINDI:

The body of a 10-day-old kidnapped baby was recovered from a covered well inside a house in the Kant Roshan area of Police Station Jatli.

The infant was allegedly killed after being thrown into the covered well. Police have taken household members into custody and launched an investigation.

According to police, on Saturday evening, Kamran Shahzad informed police that he had gone to work at a mill while his wife and other family members were at home.

His wife later informed him that she had gone to give clothes to a relative, leaving their 10-day-old baby asleep on a bed. When she returned a few minutes later, the baby was missing.

At the time, the baby's grandmother, sister-in-law and a 12-year-old sister-in-law were present in the house. The family searched all rooms but failed to locate the child.

On receiving information, ASP Gujar Khan Daniyal Kazmi and SHO Jamal Nawaz reached the spot with a forensic team, and police continued searching the house and surrounding areas late into the night.

Police officials said the well was also checked, but due to it being covered and around 100 feet deep, no success was achieved at night, and a decision was made to search it in daylight. A kidnapping case was registered.

On Sunday morning, when the family turned on the water motor and water did not come, a mechanic was lowered into the well, from where the body of the 10-day-old baby was recovered and brought out. Police were present at the scene.

Police officials said the baby was only 10 days old, the room where the child was sleeping was at a distance from the well, and the well was properly covered.

Police said a comprehensive investigation has been initiated after taking household members into custody. If it is confirmed that the baby was thrown into the well, murder charges will also be added to the kidnapping case.