MANSEHRA: The Balakot police have arrested a watchman for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman.

Deputy superintendent of police, Balakot, Siraj Khan told reporters on Thursday that the police made the arrest after the woman accused the watchman of raping her for three days.

He said the woman had left home after developing differences with her husband and mother-in-law.

The DSP said the accused worked as a watchman in the local bazaar.

He said if the woman or her family wasn’t satisfied with the police investigation, they should approach him.

The woman told reporters that after she left home, a police party led by assistant sub-inspector Mohammad Amjad held her outside the offices of the forest department and took her to a local jirga instead of the police station.

She said the jirga handed her over to a watchman, who took her to his sister-in-law’s house, where he sexually assaulted her for three days until her husband traced her and took her away.

Her husband accused the watchman of snatching two tolas gold and Rs20,000 cash from the woman.

MUHARRAM SECURITY: District police officer Asif Bahadur has sought the support of the local peace committee and management of the main imambargah in maintaining peace during Muharram.

“We have put in place foolproof security arrangements for Muharram, especially on Ashura, and require your support and cooperation for the security of mourning processions and religious congregations,” he told the custodians of the Markazi Imambargah, Muftiabad, here on Thursday.

The district police officer visited the imambargah and Ashura procession route, examined security checks and directed the police personnel to be vigilant and not to allow anyone to participate in them without checking.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2021