4 suspects arrested over alleged murder, sexual assault of 5-year-old girl in K-P's Haripur

Police recover five-year-old victim’s body from a well after extensive search; CM Afridi orders inquiry

HARIPUR:

Haripur District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur said on Tuesday that the force had arrested four suspects in connection with the alleged abduction, sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old girl.

Addressing a press conference, the DPO expressed sorrow over the death and said the disappearance or abduction of a child was not merely a family tragedy but a matter of concern for the entire society.

According to the police, her father reported her missing on August 10. A case was registered under Sections 361 (kidnapping from lawful guardianship) and 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under the age of fourteen) of the Pakistan Penal Code, following which a search and investigation were launched.

A special investigation team comprising senior police officers was formed. Female police officers and investigators were also included in the team.

Read: Missing Haripur minor sexually assaulted

A separate technical team was tasked with collecting and analysing CCTV footage, call data records, geofencing information and other digital evidence. Police obtained and reviewed footage from around 200 CCTV cameras and analysed records of 20 suspected phone numbers.

Officials said footage from 12 cameras proved particularly useful in tracing the child’s movements after she left her home and identifying the suspects travelling on foot and by motorcycle.

Police subsequently arrested three suspects and recovered the motorcycle allegedly used in the crime.

The police said one of them confessed before a court to abducting and sexually assaulting the child, and his statement was formally recorded by the judge. The other two were produced before the court for physical remand. Due to his age, one of them was sent to Haripur Central Jail on judicial remand, while one was handed over to police on a two-day physical remand.

Police later traced and arrested a fourth suspect. Acting on his identification, police discovered a deep, dry and overgrown well in a vacant plot near the Link Road on University Road, close to a warehouse.

Read More: Child abuse cases in Pakistan rise 8% to 3,630 in 2025: Sahil

The body was recovered from the well with the assistance of Rescue 1122. The recovery operation was supervised by the DPO and senior members of the Special Investigation Team.

The body was taken to the Rescue 1122 Trauma Centre in Haripur, where doctors conducted a post-mortem examination. X-rays and samples for DNA, kidney, intestinal and other forensic tests were collected and sent for analysis. Further investigation is under way.

The DPO said the investigation had faced several challenges because some of the suspects were underage and did not have identity cards, making it difficult to trace SIM cards directly registered in their names. Police therefore obtained and analysed records of their family members and other suspected numbers.

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The investigation also involved extensive search operations. At one stage, more than 400 police officers and personnel, along with Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) staff, were divided into teams to search the area. The searches covered drains, sewerage lines, dense vegetation, areas around the University of Haripur, the fertiliser factory grounds, Pathan Colony and adjoining areas, vacant plots and deserted locations.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the case, while Hazara Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Nasir Mahmood Satti visited Haripur and reviewed the investigation. The DPO briefed him on the CCTV evidence, the investigative progress, and the suspects' statements.

The DIG also met the father and family and assured them that justice would be served. Police said the family and relatives were kept informed and accompanied investigators during various stages of the investigation and search operations.

The Haripur police thanked religious scholars, traders, media representatives, civil society members and local elders for maintaining patience and restraint. They also appreciated residents and traders of Pathan Colony and adjoining areas for providing access to CCTV cameras and footage.

The DPO urged citizens with CCTV cameras to keep them functional and preserve recorded footage, saying such evidence could help police trace suspects involved in serious crimes.

He said the Haripur police would maintain the chain of investigation, use all available resources, and ensure that all legal requirements were met to bring those responsible to justice.

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also took notice of the incident and directed authorities to form a special investigation team to conduct a comprehensive probe.

The chief minister strongly condemned the alleged crime and said that all aspects of the case would be investigated in a transparent manner.

Read: Missing Haripur minor sexually assaulted

CM Afridi said the reported assault and murder of the child was deeply disturbing and that those responsible would be brought to justice and awarded the strictest punishment under the law.

He extended his condolences to the bereaved family and assured them that the provincial government stood with them during their time of grief.

The chief minister said crimes against children would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He added that those involved would receive no leniency and would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.