TAXILA: Two brothers were on Friday taken into custody by the police for burying their mentally-disabled sister alive in a well in their house on the directives of the local spiritual healer to rid the family of evil forces.

Shabana, 38, and a resident of Banni Mohallah near Christian Hospital, had not been seen since Dec 4.

Shabana’s elder brother, Mohammad Imran, who lives separately, lodged a complaint with the police about his sister’s unexplained disappearance.

On Friday, the victim’s mother called her brother, Abdul Lateef, saying she had been locked in a room by her two sons, Mohammad Farhan and Mohammad Kamran, and that she had managed to break out of the room.

Abdul Lateef came to his sister’s aid and also informed his nephew, Mohammad Imran. The victim’s mother told her brother and son that her daughter had been buried alive in the well in the house.

Imran then informed the local police about the crime.

Rescue 1122 was called to retrieve the body but the operation was abandoned when the oxygen supply was exhausted and it got dark.

Rescue 1122 officer Adeel Ahmed said the operation will resume on Saturday after more oxygen cylinders are brought in.

Investigation Officer Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahzad told mediapersons that both the suspects were taken into custody. He said the two brothers had confessed to killing their sister on the directives of the local spiritual healer, who had told them that evil forces have descended on her which also affected their family. The spiritual healer had advised they kill her in order to rid the family of evil forces.

He said a case will be registered against the suspects after the body is recovered.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018