Gang-rape case: Alleged rapists sent into eight-day remand

Four other suspects get pre-arrest bails; victim’s family being pressured to settle the issue through jirga.

MUZAFFARABAD:

Two suspected rapists of a 10 years old girl were sent into physical remand on Tuesday, police sources said.

The prime suspect, MA* and one of his accomplices were presented before Athmuqam district civil judge Wahid Mughal who ordered their eight days remand and handed them over to local police

The in-charge of the Lawat Police station Yaqoob Muhghal told the The Express Tribune that the initial medical report confirmed that the girl has been sexually assaulted.

The victim’s father alleged that the suspects, who are supporters of a political party, were pressuring him to withdraw the FIR and settle the issue through local jirga.

The family refused to drop the charges and has demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

According to the police, the two suspects were arrested on the complaint of the girl’s father. The man had lodged an FIR with the Lawat police that one of their neighbours along with his five accomplices had allegedly gang-raped his daughter after kidnapping.

Police say the victim was called by the prime suspect’s sister to her house from where she was kidnapped by MA* and his friends. They took the girl to the forest and gang-raped her for two days, the complainant alleged.

The suspect later approached the victim’s family and said he was ready to hand over the girl if they promised not to report the incident to the police. However, after getting back the girl, the family lodged the FIR with the police against the man and his accomplices.

The police arrested MA*and one of his friends on Monday, who confessed to their crime. The other four suspects have fled the area after getting pre-arrest bails.

Names in the report have been changed to protect their identity

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2014.