Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Dera Ismail Khan Regional Police Officer (RPO) has said the eight accused arrested for forcing a girl parade naked in the vicinity of DI Khan have confessed to their crime.

Addressing a crowded press conference in DI Khan on Wednesday, RPO Fida Hussain recalled the tragic incident that took place on October 27 in Garra Mat, a dusty hamlet on the outskirts of DI Khan, and said that the ninth absconder nominated in the case would be arrested soon.

“The cases of the eight accused had been sent to the court to decide their fate. The counter FIR of the accused against the girl had been rejected,” Hussain added.

He said that police had detained eight out of nine accused within three days of the grisly incident.

Earlier, a local landlord, requesting anonymity, had said the some three years ago Sajjad, the brother of the victim girl, was accused by a rival group headed by Sajjawal Seheer of having illicit relations with a female of the latter’s family.

“However, that dispute was settled following arbitration by local elders in accordance with the established norms and tradition,” he said.

“The local landlord had said the family of Seheer, however, wanted to take revenge on Sajjad’s family members,” he said.

RPO said that District Police Officer (DPO) Raja Abdul Saboor Khan had been supervising the team investigating the incident.

However, when asked about progress into probe against the Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station concerned, the RPO said the SHO had been asked to report to the police lines.

“Action will be taken against the SHO once the investigation against him is completed,” he added.

Published in Daily Times, November 16^th 2017.