MUZAFFARABAD: The police in Sudhnoti district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)have arrested one of two suspects accused of sexually assaulting a 22-yearsold girl in her home two days ago, an official said on Saturday.

According to the FIR lodged by the victim’s mother at Baloch police station, suspects entered her house around 2:50 pm on Thursday while she was visiting her sister’s home and raped her daughter.

The complainant, a resident of Kehala village, stated that the suspects threatened victim with a knife and death, if she made any noise.

“When she resisted, one of suspects wounded her left wrist with the knife,” the FIR quoted the mother as saying.

The FIR further revealed that while a suspect raped the victim, while another suspect allegedly filmed the act using mobile phones. He threatened to post the footage on social media if the victim raised any alarm.

The mother said she learned of the incident when her other daughters returned home after fetching water and informed her about the crime.

Police have registered a case against the accused under sections 452, 354, 337F, 506(2), and 292 of the Azad Penal Code, along with section 10(3) of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979.

SHO, Waqar Azeem, told Dawn by telephone that they had arrested a suspect on Saturday morning, and would present him before a magistrate for his physical remand.

“As we speak, we are conducting a raid to apprehend the second accused,” he said

In November last year, Baloch police had arrested another two suspects in the same village for assaulting and blackmailing a married woman, who later took her own life by consuming poison.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2025