SAHIWAL: A man was kidnapped and brutally tortured on Friday night by relatives of a married woman for allegedly having relations with her and the kidnappers severed his right heel and genitals at 17/14-L village.

Kasowal police have arrested the two nominated suspects Manzoor and Rasheed – both maternal uncles of the woman ‘S’, registering a case against five persons, including two women, on the complaint of a brother of ‘S’, Razzaq.

According to Chichawatni DSP Sajid Gondal, raids are being conducted to arrest fleeing suspect Umair, Amir and Shahbaz.

Police sources say the woman, a resident of 17/14-L village, was married to Shahbaz, of 90 Mor, Chichawatni Tehsil, some eight years back and the couple had two children. Six months back, the woman had a quarrel with her husband after which she started living with her parents. However, she was sent back to her in-laws’ house on the intervention of a panchayat comprising village elders.

But, her relationship with her husband did not improve and a couple of days back she complained to police on 15 helpline that Shahbaz had tortured her. Acting on the complaint, a police team rescued her and on her request dropped her at the house of her parents.

Her husband suspected that she had an extra-marital affair with a rickshaw driver, Mazhar, also a resident of 17/14-L village, and that was why she was not willing to live with her in-laws.

On Friday night, Manzoor and Rasheed kidnapped Mazhar, and took him to their farmhouse, where Umair and Amir were also present along with ‘S’. They subjected Mazhar to brutal torture, beating him with iron rods and clubs and later Manzoor severed his right heel and genitals. The suspects fled away. The matter was reported to police by Mazhar’s brother and on his complaint Manzoor and Rasheed were arrested.

The injured man was first shifted to Kasowal Rural Health Centre, from where he was referred to Nishtar Hospital, Multan, given his serious condition.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2022