Crime and impunity: Villagers protest police inaction on rape complaint

Family says they will commit suicide in front of CM’s house if they were denied justice

FAISALABAD: Scores of residents of Bulleh Shah village on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against Mamu Kanjan police for failing to register a rape complaint.

The protesters gathered at the press club and staged a sit-in there. They chanted slogans against police and demanded that police register a case immediately.

Talking to newsmen, Bashir, one of the protesters, said his 13-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by a landlord and his accomplices. He said they had taken the girl at his dera where she was raped.

He said they later dumped her in front of his house and fled. “We took her to a hospital where doctors say her condition is serious,” he said.

He said the medico-legal report showed that she had been raped. “We submitted the medical report when we went to register our complaint.” he said. “Police did not register an FIR and did not take any action against the suspects.”

He said some policemen were urging them to withdraw the case. Qureshi said he and his family would commit suicide in front of the chief minister’s house in Lahore if they were denied justice.

The protesters urged the CPO to look into the matter and arrest the suspects soon.

Later, a police team the headed by the Mamu Kanjan SHO met the protesters and assured them that the complaint would be investigated and the suspects would be arrested.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the SHO said police had registered an FIR on the complaint of the girl’s uncle. “Police are investigating the complaint. Arrests will be made soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2015.