Rape in Badin: Suspects identified, confess to their crime

The victim, a mentally disturbed woman, had been reportedly gang-raped on September 11.

KARACHI:

The family of Badin’s gang rape victim fears the police might dilute the case as influential landlords are involved in the crime perpetrated on September 11 near Badin city.

“The eyewitnesses have identified the culprits,” said Soomar Khaskheli and Deen Muhammad Khaskheli, uncles of the victim ‘N’, who have also suspected the involvement of the son and the driver of a landlord.

‘N’, reportedly mentally ill for a few years, had been kept in chains by her parents. She had been freed on the day when the suspects took her to their place and gang-raped her.

“We fear they [police and influential persons] want to weaken the case but we won’t forgive them. We want justice.”



It is not yet clear whether the son of the landlord is involved in the crime or not but N’s family suspects he is. “His son should be included in the case and the investigation and medical reports will prove who is innocent and who the real offender,” sources quoted them as saying.

Four suspects – Allah Jhurio Khaskheli, Ali Ahmed Mallah, Altaf Mandhro and Allah Bachayo Mallah – who are on five day police remand, appeared before the judge on Monday. The eyewitnesses identified them all.

“All the suspects have confessed to their crime. It is  a genuine gang rape case,” said the Investigation Officer Aijaz Turk. “We are also trying to trace the remaining three unknown men,” he added.

A source told The Express Tribune that police had also detained two unidentified men nominated in the FIR but were not brought before the court on Monday.

‘N’, still chained at her home, had not been brought to hospital for further medical check-up and treatment. “She is chained again,” a near relative said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2013.