MUZAFFARABAD: Police arrested a man from Mirpur district in Azad Kashmir on Sunday for allegedly attempting to rape his minor stepdaughter over two weeks ago, police said.

Station House Officer (SHO) Dadyal tehsil Rashid Habib Masoodi informed Dawn by telephone that the alleged suspect, who is 35 years old and unemployed, attempted to sexually assault his seven-year-old stepdaughter around midday on July 15, while her mother was away from their home in Sihalia village.

Upon returning home, the girl’s mother learned of the incident from her daughter. However, she did not report it to the police immediately due to threats from the suspect, including divorce, said SHO Masoodi.

When the suspect continued his abusive behaviour, the mother confronted him last Wednesday and declared her intention to report his actions to the authorities, the SHO added.

It is pertinent to mention that the alleged suspect had a previous history of alleged attempted sexual assault on his elder stepdaughter, aged nine. According to the FIR, a copy of which was obtained by Dawn, the suspect had a history of violent behaviour, frequently assaulting his wife and sexually abusing her daughters.

SHO Masoodi confirmed from records that the suspect had been charged in October last year under the same section of Azad Penal Code (APC) for attempting to sexually assault his elder stepdaughter.

However, he was granted bail after his wife reached a settlement with him during court proceedings, despite there being no legal provision for reconciliation in such cases, he said.

Fearing arrest in this current case, the suspect went into hiding and could not be traced despite multiple raids at different locations. However, acting on a tip-off on Sunday, the police finally succeeded in apprehending him in a suburban area of Dadyal, the SHO said.

Mr Masoodi said the suspect had been charged under section 377-A (iii) of the APC, which stipulates: “Whoever attempts to commit an offence under sub-section (1) shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to ten years but shall not be less than five years or a fine which may extend to 2 million rupees but shall not be less than one million or with both.”

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024