Justice delayed: Protest against police for not arresting ‘rapist’

Satiana police yet to arrest suspect who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl two months ago.

FAISALABAD: Dozens of people on Sunday staged a protest demonstration against police for failing to arrest man who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl two months ago.

Residents of Chak 577-GB blocked the main Satiana-Faisalabad Road for all kinds of traffic.

Naseer Anwar, one of the protesters, told reporters that Amjad* abducted Nazia* and raped her.

“We registered a complaint with Satiana police, but the police are not taking any action against him. Amjad is threatening the girl’s family with dire consequences if they do not take back the complaint,” he said.

“Satiana SHO Khalid is not arresting Amjad because he has taken bribes from him,” Anwar said.

The protesters chanted slogans against the police and demanded Amjad’s immediate arrest.

The Jaranwala DSP negotiated with the protesters. They dispersed after he assured them that action would be taken against the alleged rapist.

When contacted, SHO Satiana Khalid said that police had received a complaint against Amjad.

“Later, the complainants submitted a statement that they had forgiven the accused and there was no need to take any action against him. Therefore, the police did not arrest the accused,” the SHO said.

“On Saturday night, the accused reportedly went to the girl’s house and tried to kidnap her again. This angered her family, who staged a demonstration,” the station house officer said.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

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