SUKKUR: A man complained to media persons in Shikarpur on Saturday that four men subjected his 12-year-old daughter to sexual assault when she went out of home to buy milk for the family’s breakfast at around 7am but police refused to register the case and issue a letter for medical examination of the victim.

The victim’s father said that when his daughter did not return home, he along with his relatives and neighbours mounted search for her in the area. In the meantime, the suspects let her go and she returned home, he said.

He said that his daughter narrated her ordeal to the family saying that when she was walking to the milk shop, four men forcibly took her to the guest room (Autaq) of a house and subjected her to rape.

He said that her daughter had recognised one of the tormentors and she would pick him and others out easily if they were brought before her. When they went to file complaint against the suspects at Lakhi Dar police station, police officials drove them out, saying they would only register a non-cognisable report and that too later, he said.

He said that when they insisted on registration of the case and issuance of medical letter, the police officials scolded them and warned in a threatening tone “you’d better go away without demanding any letter”.

He said the police officials said to them that they [police] would settle the issue between them and the alleged rapists in

the evening. Disappointed in police, they went to Jatoi House but nobody listened

to them and nor allowed them to meet any Jatoi elder, he said.

The victim’s parents appealed to Larkana DIG, Shikarpur SSP and other functionaries to provide them justice by ordering stern action against his daughter’s tormentors.

Meanwhile, SHO of Lakhi Dar police station, Rafique Soomro, told media persons that police had registered an NC and arrested one of the suspects after raids on different places. They would arrest the remaining suspects soon, he said.

About the registration of FIR, the SHO told Dawn that he would file the FIR after consulting the matter with the SSP.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2024