SUKKUR: The main suspect in polio worker sexual assault case was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days after he was picked out by a witness in a Jacobabad court on Saturday while DNA tests of the victim and the suspect also confirmed the polio worker had been subjected to rape.

The witness, Nihal Panhwar who was also a polio worker, identified the suspect and recorded his statement under Section 164 before the second civil judge and judicial magistrate of Jacobabad, Nisar Ahmed Shar.

The judge afterwards remanded the suspect in judicial custody for 14 days and sent him to district jail.

The victim had also appeared in the court.

DNA test confirms ‘rape’

Jacobabad District health Officer Dr Irshad Sarki has said that the DNA test report of the victim and the suspect issued by LUMHS laboratory has confirmed that the polio worker was subjected to sexual assault.

He told Dawn on Saturday that the DNA report had made it clear the suspect had sexually assaulted the victim. The report would be submitted to the court soon to help it reach a decision, he said.

The polio worker had admitted before court on Sept 13 that she had been subjected to sexual assault on Wednesday (Sept 11) when performing her duty in Allah Baksh Jakhrani village within the limits of Mauladad police station in Jacobabad.

A day after the incident, the victim had denied reports she had been sexually assaulted and said she was robbed of her cell phone and valuable belongings only. But later she admitted before the judge she had been assaulted and also named her tormentor who had been arrested by then.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2024