MARDAN: Several suspects were arrested on Tuesday after a forensic laboratory in Punjab confirmed that a DNA sample matched with the evidence collected from the body of four-year-old Asma who had been sexually assaulted before being murdered in Mardan last month.

Deputy Inspector Gen­eral of Police Sher Alam Khan Shinwari told Dawn that the police had received the forensic report confirming that one of the DNA samples matched with the evidence collected from the victim.

He said several suspects, including relatives of the victim, were taken into custody to reach the rapist.

He added that the arrested persons were being interrogated on the basis of the forensic report and the information provided by intelligence agencies about the suspects.

Several suspects, including relativesof the victim,arrested

The DIG said the identity of the culprit would be disclosed within the next few days.

Sources said three suspects — Qadir, Gul Nabi and Mohammad Nabi — were arrested from the Gojar Ghari area on Tuesday.

Asma was playing outside her house in the Gojar Ghari area when she went missing last month. Next day she was found dead in a nearby sugar cane field.

According to the medico-legal report, the girl had been strangled. Later, it was confirmed that she had been raped before being killed.

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the tragic incident that sparked outrage across the country.

Police had announced a reward of Rs500,000 for anyone providing information in the case or help leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2018