SAHIWAL: Around 30 hours after abduction, Pakpattan police rescued five Okara-based transpersons, who had been subjected to torture, and molested by a group of five robbers.

The victims were returning home following a wedding ceremony when the suspects kidnapped them near Tarikhni Mor on the morning of May 13.

Arifwala DSP Tariq Javed said an encounter took place between the police and the dacoits near village 66/EB, leading to the rescue of the transpersons.

DPO Tariq Valayat said police arrested gang leader Rana Phool, a resident of village 145/EB, along with Asif Ali, while their accomplices Shahid, Mustafa, and an unidentified person managed their escape.

Among those rescued were Ali Raz alias Titlee, Arbab alias Muni, Waqas alias Sapna, Fasil alias Bobi, Shaheen Allah Dita, and driver of the rented car, Waheed Siraj.

Police also recovered a cache of stolen items, valued at Rs10.3 million, including Rs433,500 cash, two iPhones, seven mobile phones, a one-tola gold locket, and a rented car worth Rs6m.

Ali Raza told Dawn on the phone that they had been rescued by the Arifwala Saddar police from an abandoned house at village 84/EB.

Ali Raza described how they were blindfolded, abducted, and locked in different rooms of a house, where they endured torture and sexual abuse.

Ali Raza was left in the room after being tortured but he managed to escape through a bathroom window and sought help from a villager.

Ali Raza from a villager’s phone contacted the Virtual Police Help Center 15. The Pakpattan police were promptly alerted and mobilised to the location.

Meanwhile, upon realising that Ali Raza had escaped, the dacoits attempted to flee from the village in their car. However, they encountered police near village 66/EB.

The suspects hit a police car and tried to escape. Police fired back and dacoit’s car overturned. Later, police managed to arrest two suspects while three others escaped into a nearby maize field.

Reports said two cases have been registered against Rana Phool and his accomplices, one based on the complaint filed by ASI Asger Ali, under sections 324, 353, 427, 186 and 34 of Pakistan Penal Code and the other on the complaint of Ali Raza.

Police are raiding to arrest others.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024