BAHAWALPUR: Bahawalpur Saddar police thwarted a bid by a man to marry a 13-year-old girl and arrested four suspects, including the would-be groom, at Basti Azeempur here on Thursday.

According to the First Information Report No 908/25 registered under sections 420, 468, 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code andrelevant sections of the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, ASIAzhar Javed, on a tip-off, raided a place in Bast Azeempur.

It says that at the time of the raid, the marriage of an underage girl, Aisha Azhar (13) was about to be held with the suspect, Imran.

The police arrested Imran, his father Belal, the girl’s father Azhar and Nikah Khwan Qari Riaz Hussain and lodged them in the lock-up after registering the case against them.

Further investigations are in progress.

HONEY TRAP: Two youths were allegedly kidnapped by Katcha area dacoits after being lured through a honey trap in Rajanpur district.

As per police sources, Yaseen, a resident of Sirai Sadhu in Khanewal district, befriended an unknown girl after contacting her on social media.

The girl invited Yaseen to a place in Rajanpur district, promising to marry him. When Yaseen, along with his cousin Altaf, reached there, a gang of dacoits kidnapped the youths and took them to the Katcha area. They demanded a hefty amount as ransom from the families of the kidnapped youths.

The families of the kidnapped youths have approached the police for their recovery.

The police have yet to register a case.

RAPE BID: Three vagabonds allegedly attempted to rape a boy in the limits of Gaggo police in Vehari district on Wednesday night.

According to police sources, the 15-year-old son of a labourer of 287/EB village, was returning home after attending a fair in the area late in the night, when he was intercepted by three suspects, who were said to be drunk.

The suspects allegedly attempted to rape the youth and on facing resistance, subjected him to torture. They also recorded the boy’s nude video. However, the boy somehow managed to escape and return home.

On the complaint of the boy’s parents, the police registered a case against the three nominated suspects and arrested them.

TWO DIE: An elderly man and woman died, while a boy was injured when a van hit a motorcycle near Jandoo Morr in Lodhran district.

According to Lodhran Rescue 1122, Allah Wasaya (80) and Bhirwa Mai (75)were riding pillion with Asad Abbas (13) on a motorcycle that was hit by a van.

As a result, both Allah Wasaya and Bhirwa died on the spot, while Asad suffered injuries.

A Rescue 1122 team shifted the bodies and the injured boy to the Lodhran DHQ Hospital.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2025