In custody: Police arrest prime suspect in LHW’s murder

Police have arrested the main suspect in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of polio campaign in charge and lady health worker (LHW) Salma Farooq earlier this year.

According to a police official, the accused, Fazalur Rehman, a resident of Bila Niko Khan, Daudzai is a relative of Farooq and allegedly killed her over a personal matter.

“Five people were involved in the crime, out of which one has been killed in a police encounter while three are at large,” he added. The ill-fated polio worker was kidnapped from her house in Guluzai village on March 23 and her bullet-riddled body was later found at the bank of Kabul River near Koh-e-Daman village.

Enraged villagers and relatives then blocked the motorway in protest for several hours, demanding swift action.

Farooq’s death also sparked protests from LHWs and teachers across several districts. They demanded increased security for vaccination teams.

After months of investigation, the police identified the main accused and arrested him.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.