NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A group of armed men intercepted a police van and shot dead a rape suspect being escorted to the crime scene late on Saturday evening. The attackers fled after committing the crime, the police said.

Asadullah, a cleric who was booked for allegedly subjecting a 12-year-old student to criminal assault at his seminary in Bhiriya Road town on Thursday, had escaped from the area after police moved into action on the complaint of the victim’s family.

However, he surrendered himself before the Naushahro Feroze SSP on Friday and police obtained his remand from an anti-terrorism court on Saturday morning.

According to the Bhiriya Road police, the suspect was being escorted to the seminary for further investigation when a group of seven armed men intercepted their mobile van near Jalbani village late on Satuday evening.

They held the police team at gunpoint, targeted the suspect and opened fire killing him instantly, SHO Muneem Larik claimed, adding that they drove away after committing the crime.

The body was handed over to the heirs after a post-mortem examination at the local government hospital.

The family and relatives of the deceased suspect took his body to a public place near their house and held a sit-in demanding arrest of the attackers, who implicated Asadullah in a “false” rape case and then shot him dead.

They also demanded action against the police for failing to ensure safety and security of the suspect in their custody. They apprehended that Asadullah’s two brothers arrested by the police might also be killed in custody.

An FIR against seven unknown attackers was registered at the Bhiriya police station.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2016