UMERKOT, April 11: The curse of a cell phone friendship landed a married woman of Bahawalpur in a brothel of Umerkot from where she was rescued by police on the complaint of neighbours. She was produced before the court but now apprehends the same fate, this time under the roof of a police station where she is temporarily housed.

The woman said that she was a resident of Baghdad Colony, Bahalwalpur and got married nine years ago and was issueless which gave bait to her-in-laws to hurl abuses, taunts and maltreat her.

Eventually, she filed a suit for dissolution of marriage.

It was some three month ago that she received a unanimous call while enduring the brunt of in-laws, both verbally and physically. The caller heard her cries and again called her the following day from the same number and introduced himself as Abdul Rehman of Umerkot, Sindh. His sympathetic attitude encouraged the woman to develop a friendship. The chatting continued for three months.

Abdul Rehman on April 7 cajoled her to visit Umerkot to finalise marriage plans after meeting each other. He also promised to get my sick mother treated, she told the reporter.

She was received by Abdul Rehman on reaching Umerkot. The man took the woman to the house of Moran Oad and fled from there after physically assaulting her. Physical abuse became a routine as the woman had landed at a brothel. She was closely guarded and had no way to escape.

The woman said that today (Monday) a female neighbour of Moran visited the house whom she narrated her ordeal who informed the police through her husband.

Umerkot police, after taking custody of the woman produced her before District and Sessions Judge Umerkot where her statement was recorded. The court ordered disposal of case according to law.

ASI Khalil Ahmed Kumbhar who recovered the woman told this scribe that they were going to register a case against Abdul Rehman and Moran Oad on the complaint of victim.

The woman who was still at the police station and in the company of a lady constable expressed fears of insecurity. The episode might be repeated here, she said.