Azeri woman in alleged Lahore gang-rape case returns home under police escort

Earlier, she refused to return, arguing she wants to pursue case, is being sent back forcibly

LAHORE:

The foreign woman at the centre of an alleged gang-rape case in Lahore left for her homeland, Azerbaijan, on Sunday, after earlier refusing to return. The flight to Baku took off from Lahore airport, with three Lahore Police officers travelling with the woman, identified as Diana.

According to police sources, the request to send police officers with Diana was made by the Azerbaijani embassy. The officers accompanying the woman include female Assistant Superintendent of Police Barira, Deputy Superintendent of Police Qamar Abbas and Gender Cell In-Charge Fariyal.

The police personnel will take Diana to Azerbaijan in their custody, remaining with her until they reach her homeland.

On Friday, Diana had reportedly completed boarding at Lahore airport but then decided to get off the plane, refusing to return to Azerbaijan. She expressed some reservations at the airport, arguing that she wanted to pursue her case and was being sent back forcibly.

Read: Lahore police arrests 4 suspects for kidnapping, sexual assault of two foreign women

Diana had filed a complaint against three unidentified men for reported gang-rape, following which a case was registered at Defence C police station.

Lahore Investigation Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Zeeshan Raza took immediate notice of the incident and formed special teams headed by Cantt Investigation Superintendent of Police (SP) Asim Iftikhar to arrest the suspects.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Diana had arrived in Lahore a few days before the alleged incident. The report said two unidentified women had lured her to a cafe, where three male friends of the women were already present. After spending some time at the cafe, the group allegedly took Diana to a flat.

The FIR alleged that she was given a drink containing an intoxicating substance at the flat, after which three men allegedly gang-raped her.

The suspects allegedly sexually assaulted her throughout the night before leaving her near the airport and fleeing, according to the FIR. They also allegedly took an iPhone and another expensive mobile phone belonging to Diana, it said.

Read More: Four suspects in alleged Peshawar gang rape case killed in attack by unidentified gunmen

Police subsequently launched an investigation and began searching for the suspects.

On September 27, police investigating the case lodged by the 20-year-old woman from Azerbaijan found a vehicle allegedly used in her sexual assault and detained three people for questioning.

Lahore Police identified suspects allegedly involved in the gang-rape and launched efforts to arrest them.

DIG Raza noted that the Investigation Police had arrested two main suspects, who were being interrogated, while one suspect was absconding and would be arrested soon, adding that whoever was found guilty would be punished in accordance with the law.