NAROWAL: Sheikhupura police arrested the suspects involved in two cases of sexual assault.

One suspect confessed to raping a 13-year-old girl in Ferozewala.

The other alleged arrested person admitted to assaulting and murdering a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in the same area.

District Police Officer Bilal Zafar Sheikh, addressing the media alongside Punjab Women Protection Authority chairperson Hina Parvez Butt, revealed details of the investigations.

The first case involved a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly raped on Sept 13, 2024, while visiting her father’s shop in Rachna Town.

After fleeing the scene, the suspect left the alleged rape survivor in a critical condition. She was shifted to Lahore for treatment following initial care at the Ferozewala Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

In the second case, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl was reported missing on Nov 20, 2024, and later found murdered near her home in Secunderabad.

Postmortem results confirmed sexual assault.

The police said both suspects were arrested after extensive investigation involving six teams and the use of modern technology, such as polygraphy and DNA test.

ROBBERY: Narowal witnessed alarming street crimes as a citizen was critically injured during a robbery and thieves looted multiple shops.

In the first incident, robbers riding a motorcycle intercepted 21-year-old Abrar Hussain and his brother on Isa Road. When Abrar resisted, the robbers opened fire, leaving him seriously injured before fleeing with cash and mobile phones.

Abrar was initially treated at Narowal District Headquarters Hospital and later referred to a Lahore hospital due to his critical condition.

The second incident occurred in Dhamthal Town, where thieves broke into multiple shops, including Mian Siddique and Sons and Abdul Rahman Grocery Store and took away cash, cigarettes and other valuables worth Rs300,000.

Local shopkeepers expressed frustration over the rising street crime and alleged police inaction.

Citizens demanded that the chief minister and the inspector general of police curb the growing menace.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2025