LAHORE, July 5: The Punjab police chief informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the four main culprits involved in the Meerwala (Muzaffargarh) gang-rape case were still at large.

The IGP informed the SC bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad, Justice Sardar Raza Khan and Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, that eight accomplices had been taken into custody while search was on for the four main culprits, who constituted the Panchayat that ordered the gruesome punishment and later also executed it.

The Supreme Court asked the police to submit weekly reports on arrests and investigation in the gang-rape case.

The first such report will be submitted by the DIG of the Dera Ghazi Khan range at Islamabad on July 11, Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad ordered.

The CJ had taken suo motu notice of the incident and summoned the police high-ups along with the advocate-general.

The CJ warned the police to give up old ways and streamline its functioning to carry out the role assigned to it in the devolution plan. More powers meant greater responsibility.

The girl, the CJ said, might have been spared the torture had the police acted well in time. According to reports, the so-called Panchayat meeting and the incident occurred in public view. A timely police intervention could very well have prevented the heinous offence.

The police, the CJ observed, should not wait for complaints and information to be brought to it but reach out to curb crime, nab offenders and help their victims. Patrols should be increased and officers should keep a strict watch on their subordinates. The working of the police should be closely monitored, the CJ asked the authorities.