Mother arrested for allegedly torturing toddlers during black magic ritual in Lahore

Published June 20, 2019
The suspect's husband said he took his children to a hospital despite facing resistance. ─ AFP/File
The suspect's husband said he took his children to a hospital despite facing resistance. ─ AFP/File

A woman was arrested in Lahore on Thursday for allegedly torturing and burning her children with a candle during a black magic ritual, police said.

The suspect's husband, Simon Masih, filed a first information report at the Qila Gujjar Singh police station against his wife, alleging that she had taken their three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son to her aunt's house a few days ago.

Masih said he had gone to visit his children on Thursday morning and found his daughter tied to a bed, his son tied to a sofa, and a brown goat tied up between them in the same room, as his wife's aunt allegedly performed a black magic ritual on them, burning them with candles and torturing them.

Masih said that he had untied his children despite facing resistance and taken them to Mayo Hospital where they were admitted for treatment.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Investigation Civil Lines division Asim Iftikhar, both children are in stable condition.

The FIR was registered under Pakistan Penal Code Sections 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 328 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years by parent or person having care of it) and 328A (cruelty to a child).

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

THE year 2023 is a sobering reminder of the tumultuous relationship Asia has with climate change and how this change...
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.