GUJRAT: The forensic test of the fluid of some women allegedly extracted through a procedure by a gang in Hafizabad reveals that there is no bone marrow or spinal fluid, leading the investigators to believe that the prime suspect had an ulterior motive.

The investigators say the suspect turns out to be a polio-stricken man who suffers from bouts of depression and wanted to fulfill sexual gratification by hoodwinking the unwitting women.

Police and other investigation agencies drew up the conclusion on the basis of the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory’s report of fluid test and polygraph test of two of the suspects.

Initially, police had arrested five people accused of tapping spinal fluid from 15 women in Hafizabad and Gujranwala. They arrested Nadeem Iqbal (prime suspect) who, along with his cousin Irfan, Aslam and his wife Amna Bibi, tricked the women into believing that it was a requirement for participation in a government welfare project. Two of the syringes were sent for the forensic test.

Hafizabad District Police Officer Dr Sardar Ghias Gull confirmed the finding of the forensic report.

A senior officer of the district administration told Dawn that no bone marrow or spinal fluid had been detected and the report which confirmed that there were only white cells and blood found in the liquid recovered from Iqbal. The suspect had been crippled by polio and had shown signs of being a pervert, he said.

A police official claimed that Iqbal during the course of investigation gave contradictory statements and was finally made to undergo the polygraph test during which he revealed his intention. Earlier, he told the investigators that he sold the fluid to a sanitary worker of the DHQ hospital -- a charge he denied.

Meanwhile, Nadeem, Aslam and Irfan were produced in the Gujranwala Anti-Terrorism Court on Thursday and the judge granted their physical remand to police for 11 days. The fourth suspect, Amna Bibi, was already on judicial remand.

Earlier, a team of senior doctors of the DHQ hospital had also ruled out the possibility of extracting bone marrow form the women.

Twenty-three women have complained about being duped by the gang in the last two months. Police and other law-enforcement agencies recorded their statements and their medical examination was conducted at the DHQ hospital. Some of them underwent MRI scan at Lahore’s General Hospital (the report is awaited).

The inquiry team headed by Hafizabad Deputy Commissioner Saleha Saeed is likely to complete its findings on Friday (today).

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2018