BAHAWALPUR: Shoc­k­ed by an attempted rape, an 18-year-old girl reportedly committed suicide after police delayed taking action against the suspect on Thursday.

Reacting swiftly in the wake of recent public resentment after the motorway gang-rape, District Police Officer Sohaib Ashraf got three police officials, including the station house officer, and the suspect arrested.

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan told media that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had ordered the Bahawalpur DPO to take strict action.

According to the FIR registered under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code by Kha­ir­pur Tamewali police, the compla­inant (mother of the dec­eased girl) said the suspect, a co-villager, attempted to rape her daughter in Chailiwahan village on Wednesday.

The suspect managed to escape when some villagers tried to overpower him at the crime scene after the girl raised an alarm.

The complainant said her daughter was so shocked and depressed that she consumed pesticides. She was driven to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital where she died on Thursday.

She said when her husband visited the local police station, the staff on duty referred them to a police check post in the area.

Police spokesman Jam Sajid, in a press release, said DPO Sohaib Ashraf visited the spot and ordered arrest of Khairpur Tamewali SHO Anwarul Haq, investigation officer (IO) ASI Ashfaq and moharrar Muha­m­mad Siddique over negligence.

The DPO extended condolences to the bereaved family.

Mr Chohan said the Punjab government was “following a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to rape cases and police negligence and will make sure the culprits are punished”.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2020