Moving van assault suspects remanded

Court hands 5-day remand to trio in moving van rape case

RAWALPINDI:

A local court on Wednesday granted a five-day physical remand for three individuals arrested in connection with the widely reported gang rape of a 19-year-old married woman, allegedly perpetrated inside a moving van within the Rawat Police Station jurisdiction.

Duty Civil Judge Ghulam Muhammad Sarfraz instructed the investigating authorities to complete the interrogation of the accused and submit a progress report at the next hearing.

One suspect remains at large, and police are conducting raids to apprehend him. The court directed that the detained accused, including Aqeel and Sultan, be produced again on 6 April.

The police investigation team had requested a seven-day physical remand; however, the court granted five days. The investigating officer informed the court that a medical examination at the hospital had confirmed sexual assault.

He added that DNA testing of all accused would be conducted through a forensic laboratory, and the court ordered that this process be completed within the remand period.

According to the investigation, the suspects allegedly confined the victim in a van and drove her along the Chak Beli and Bagh Sheikhan routes within the Rawat Police Station area for several hours, during which the assault occurred.

The victim was later abandoned on the roadside after approximately five hours, following which the accused fled. Police subsequently apprehended the suspects.

Authorities have also decided to conduct DNA testing of the victim. The incident reportedly took place around three weeks ago, and the case was registered after some delay. The prosecution noted that, given the lapse of time, any inconclusive DNA results could adversely affect the case.

The three suspects arrested include the van driver, conductor, and an accomplice.