BATTAGRAM: The police have arrested two alleged suspects for sexually assaulting a mentally challenged woman within the limits of Battagram city police station here on Friday.

According to the woman’s father, she was divorced 10 years ago, an experience that left her deeply traumatised and significantly affected her mental health. Since then, she has been living with her parents. He further stated that because of her mental health condition, she would often leave home and return later in the evening.

On August 1, she left home in the morning and did not return. The family searched for her but to no avail. At around 10pm, they received a call from a local resident, Bab Ameer, that he heard noises from a deserted house in Gesol Bazaar. Upon checking, he found his daughter attempting to free herself from the grip of two alleged suspects. He intervened, helped her escape, and brought her home.

The father said that over the next two to three days, his daughter told the family that on the day of the incident, she had gone to Battagram. While returning home at around 8pm, she was forcibly abducted by Noman and another boy. They took her to a deserted house in Gesol Bazaar, tied her hands, gave her an intoxicating drink and sexually assaulted her.

Battagram PRO Ghulam Nabi stated that police have registered an FIR.

He said that DPO Qamar Hayat, SSP investigation Amjid Hussain, DSP headquarters and the SHO city police station launched a special operation and arrested the two alleged suspects, Noman and Syed Rawaid Shah, within 24 hours after the FIR was registered.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026