NAROWAL: Sialkot police claimed on Monday to have arrested a five-member gang who would allegedly abduct women and gang-rape them.

A widow ‘T’, a resident of Azam Town, Sambrial, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that on March 31, 2024, she and her relative ‘F’ visited the shrine of Bhaijaan Sarkar in the afternoon. Upon returning home in a rickshaw around 5pm, they were abducted by armed men on Kotha Pradhan Singh Road.

She said the suspects took them to a camp where five to six accomplices allegedly subjected them to violence and raped them.

Upon the woman’s request, the Airport police filed a first information report against five to six suspects.

Sialkot District Police Officer Mohammad Hasan Iqbal formed investigation and raiding teams, led by the Sambrial DSP, to arrest the suspects.

Police traced the suspects using human intelligence resources and modern technology and a team, led by Sambrial Station House Officer Amjad Ali, led a successful raid resulting in the arrest of five suspects.

Sialkot police spokesman Nauman Ahmed confirmed the arrest of five suspects for their alleged involvement in gang rape. He said the suspects have confessed to their crimes during interrogation. The DPO has announced a cash reward and certificates of appreciation for the teams.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2024