MULTAN: Shujaabd police have claimed that another robber involved in the gang rape of a bride on her wedding night in front of the groom on May 26, was killed “in the firing by his accomplices during an encounter.”

According to an official handout, the alleged robber, identified as Shaukat Rongha, was arrested at a picket by Shujaabad police, after recovery of a weapon from him.

The handout said the suspect was being taken somewhere for recovery of booty, when his accomplices opened fire on the police team in Jalalpur Khaki area to get him released.

It said that during the ensuing crossfire, the suspect was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices.

The police said the suspect was allegedly involved in more than 30 cases of dacoity, theft and rape during dacoity.

“The suspect was also wanted by police in a robbery case in which a bride was also raped some two weeks ago in Shujaabad. Raids are being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects (involved in the crime) after lodging the FIR at Shujaabad Saddar police station,” the handout stated.

Earlier, on June 10, the police had claimed that another robber, identified as Abid, who was involved in the same robbery-cum- rape case, was allegedly killed in the firing of his own accomplices during an encounter near Preshan Chowk of Basti Malook.

As per the police, Abid was involved in more than 40 cases of dacoity, murder, robbery, rape during robbery and theft.

However, police sources said the arrested suspects were identified by the rape survivor and after confirmation they were killed in staged encounters.

They said that after the rape incident, the survivor (bride) was sent back to her parents’ home by her in-laws. The police had also taken into custody one of the bride’s relatives over suspicion who was later on released, the added.

The rape-cum-dacoity incident had occurred at Mochipura on May 26.

The four suspects, three of them in police uniform, had barged in the groom’s house at 3am on the pretext of a liquor raid and after holding the family hostage at gunpoint gang raped the bride.

The suspects had also tortured the newlyweds on offering resistance and made off with five tola gold and Rs125,000. After the receipt of information, the police shifted the couple to the hospital and medical report confirmed the rape.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2021