Poisoned: Housemaid decamps with valuables after sedating family

Had been working at seminary head’s house for several years

HARIPUR:
A housemaid allegedly decamped with valuables and cash worth hundreds of thousands of rupees after sedating the entire household of a seminary head in Khanpur, police said on Friday.

In charge of a Madrassah in Bandi Muneem village, Molvi Akhtar Khan, told Khanpur police in a state of semi-consciousness that he has been running the seminary, where over three dozen girls and boys are enrolled, since years. The accused woman had been living with the family for the past several years as well, police added.



Khan said Kosar Bibi came to him a few years back in order to get her son admitted. She told him that due to her financial woes, she was unable to provide for him and wanted Khan to provide him accommodation and religious education. Khan said her son was admitted and keeping her troubles in mind, he allowed Kosar Bibi to stay at his place with his family and help out with household chores.


On Thursday evening, Kosar reportedly served the family tea laced with sedatives. Khan, his wife Maryam Bibi, son Muhammad Yousuf and sisters-in-law Ayeza Bibi and Nusrat Bibi soon passed out as a result. Kosar then allegedly ransacked the entire house and fled with whatever valuables she could get hold of.

When the students arrived the next morning, they found the doors of the place open and the inhabitants lying unconscious. They informed the neighbours who reported the matter to the police. All the family members were rushed to Khanpur Hospital where doctors tried to wash the substance out of their digestive systems. However, the sedative was perhaps too strong and none of the patients’ condition improved after which they were shifted to DHQ and Teaching Hospital, Haripur. Doctors said a strong anaesthetic drug was administered to them, adding samples collected from their stomachs have been sent to the laboratory for a detailed report.

Police said an FIR will only be registered once the family regains full consciousness and identifies the valuables missing from their place.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2014.
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