Heinous crime: Employer, his friend gang-rape and beat up domestic helper

Victim’s family accuse police of being uncooperative.

FAISALABAD:

Police said on Wednesday that two men had gang raped a maidservant in Batala Colony.

They said she was raped by Bakhtawar Zaman*, her employer’s husband, and an unidentified accomplice. They said she had been employed by Faiza Bibi, a resident of Sarfaraz Colony. Akram Shakeel, an uncle of the victim, said she had been working for Bibi for a year.

He said Ali had arrived at his residence with a friend in Bibi’s absence. Shakeel said they had overpowered the maid and had raped her several times. He said they had also beaten her when she put up resistance.

Shakeel said she had fainted. He said when she came to she was again beaten and her head was shaved. Shakeel said her family had approached the police but were advised to settle the matter with the culprits.

He said police were threatening the victim’s family with dire consequences in case they refused a settlement.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Batala Colony station house officer (SHO) said police had registered a complaint regarding the incident.

He denied the allegations against police. He said a team had been constituted to apprehend the men. He also said police could not take action against them men till the veracity of the rape allegation had been substantiated by a medico-legal report.

*Name has been changed to protect identity.

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