Daily Times

KARACHI: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested the alleged murderer of the minor boy whose body was found on late Thursday night from the bushes in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area.

Investigators probing the murder case of a rape and murder of a seven-year-old boy claimed that the suspect turned to be the victim’s brother.

A seven-year-old boy (identity withheld) was found dead from the bushes near the National Cricket Stadium in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area within the limits of New Town Police Station late on Thursday night after he went missing the same day he left home to play with the neighbouring children.

Medical reports had suggested that the minor was strangulated to death. The father of the deceased, who works as a watchman at a boxing club in the area, had approached police for registering a case against unidentified suspect(s).

“We suspected him of being involved in the case as he was the only one who helped the family find the body in an isolated pace,” said New Town Station House Officer Hikmatullah.

The officer said that circumstantial evidence had suggested his involvement in the murder and on the basis of suspicion, police started interrogating him and during questioning; the accused also admitted the crime.

Initially, there were reports that the deceased was also sexually assaulted before being murdered; however, doctors and police denied such reports. “Apparently, he was not subjected to rape,” said the SHO Hikmatullah, adding: “We are still waiting for the chemical examination report to verify it.”

The accused, in a confessional statement to police also denied reports of sexually assaulting the younger brother. “I killed my brother out of jealousy but how could I rape him as he was my little brother,” said the accused during initial interrogation. “I killed my brother by strangulating him to death with a wire as my father always loved him and hated me.”

The deceased was on the second number among five siblings. Police officials said that the victim’s father would often beat up his elder son as he was not interested in studies and was also a drug addict, whereas the minor boy was a good student and was also interested in sports activities.

The officer said that a case had been registered under sections of murder and kidnapping while a section of rape would be added to the FIR after confirmation.

Separately, an elderly man, who was allegedly trying to sexually abuse a minor girl, was caught by the locals in Sher Shah locality after their heard the girl screaming and shouting.

The accused has been identified as Abdul Ghaffor, 60. Police officials said that the accused was trying to kidnap an eight-year-old girl when a crowd of people gathered foiled the kidnapping bid. Police officials said that they were investigating the case to ascertain whether the accused was intentionally trying to kidnap a girl for a sexual assault or not. No case has been registered while further investigation is underway.

Published in Daily Times, February 4^th 2018.