SAHIWAL, Dec 1: The parents of a 14-year-old girl found dead in a cattle pen in 108/7-R village on Sunday, alleged she was killed by a local youth after he failed to rape her.

Reports said the victim, Farhat, went to wash clothes at a canal flowing by the village on Sunday noon.

When she did not return for hours, her parents began a search in the village. Later, her body was found in a cattle pen owned by Zahid (24), a resident of the same village.

The victim’s father, Sardar, alleged she was killed by Zahid who would often tease her. He said Farhat used to complain about Zahid’s behaviour. However, Zahid’s family denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Zahid left the village and his family claimed they did not know about his whereabouts.

The police have registered an FIR (546/08) under section 302 of the PPC against Zahid on the complaint of victim’s father.

Harappa police, investigating the case, found no torture mark or injury on victim’s body. "Even the clothes she was wearing were not torn off," SI Aslam, the investigation officer, told Dawn.

“Till issuance of autopsy report, I cannot say for sure what was the actual cause of her death," he said.

Police were conducting raids to arrest Zahid, he added.