ISLAMABAD: The capital police on Saturday announced that they have arrested the main suspect in the abduction and murder case of a 10-year-old girl.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Waqaruddin Syed said the police picked the suspect for allegedly abducting Farishta on May 15 and killing her.

“It was a blind case which had no clue to trace and identify the culprit,” he said, adding that the arrest was made after the victim’s mother’s suspicion. The mother told the police that she had spotted the suspect roaming around her daughter before she disappeared.

He was detained on the basis of information provided by the victim’s mother, DIG says

The police made sketches of the suspect and started a hunt which led to his arrest, the DIG said. The suspect is a resident of Alipur.

When residents of the area were asked about the suspect, a large number of them complained that he was involved in immoral activities, he said.

The alleged killer has criminal record and two cases were already registered against him in 2006 and 2017, the DIG said.

In 2006, he had tried to molest two girls while in 2017 he had made a similar attempt on a six-year-old girl.

In both cases, challans against the accused were submitted to the court but he got the issues settled with the complainants, the DIG added.

About 100 to 125 officials were involved in the investigation. There was no help from the DNA test and autopsy, he added.

The investigation is still under progress and the suspect is on judicial remand.

A day after the girl disappeared from outside her house, the Shahzad Town police registered a report in response to a complaint lodged by her father.

On May 19, the police registered a kidnapping case but on May 20 the girl was found murdered in Tamma.

Later, the family protested against the police for its negligence and demanded action against them which led to the registration of a case against the SHO and the investigating officer of Shahzad Town.

The capital administration also ordered a judicial inquiry while the prime minister sought a report about the incident from the police.

A senior police officer told Dawn that the inquiry against the police officials, against whom the case was registered, was in progress. So far no action has been taken against them, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2019