SAHIWAL: Kasowal police have booked three men for alleged gang rape of their newly-married friend’s wife, after the couple took shelter at the outhouse of one of the suspects at 6/14-L village of Chichawatni tehsil.

Kasowal Police station house officer (SHO) Amjad Hussain told Dawn that the police have arrested two of the suspects, and started investigation.

As per police sources, Iqbal, a resident of Forest Colony, Block No. 2, Chichawatni, contracted love marriage with a woman ‘A’ on December 7 at the Tehsil Courts, after their elopement.

The couple registered their Nikahnama with the authority concerned.

As per their plan, the couple moved to the outhouse of Iqbal’s friend ‘S’ at 6/14-L village and stayed there for two nights.

On Sunday, ‘S’ asked Iqbal to shift his wife to the house of their common friend ‘N’ as her parents could trace the outhouse and nab the couple. Iqbal agreed to the suggestion and was told to stay at the outhouse for the time being. ‘S’ also locked Iqbal in a room at the outhouse.

However, after moving the woman to the new place, ‘S’, ‘N’ and another suspect ‘M’, gang-raped her, and threatened her to keep silent or they would kill her.

Meanwhile, Iqbal’s father and uncle arrived at the outhouse and freed him.

After Iqbal related the entire story to them, they all went to ‘N’ house, where they came to know about ‘A’s plight.

Iqbal then reported the matter to Kasowal police, which registered a gang-rape case under section 375A against the three suspects.

SHO Amjad told Dawn that the police are also investigating Iqbal for leaving his wife at his friend’s house without informing his family.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024