ISLAMABAD – A concerted effort by a citizen helped Shalimar police in thwarting the gang rape of a nine-year-old girl, informed a police spokesman on Friday.

According to the spokesman, police received a phone call at Safe City Project (emergency helpline) that two men caught a nine-year-old girl near a dumping site within the limits of Police Station Sabzi Mandi.

Giving a quick response on the phone call, SP Industrial Zone Saud Khan immediately directed SHO Sabzi Mandi, Muhammad Ashraf, and team to raid the area and arrest the accused. Police raided the area and rounded up two accused identified as Asif Ali and Muhammad Bilal Khan and shifted them to the lockup. According to the spokesman, the accused, one of whom is a truck driver, and the other, a cleaner had grabbed the little girl for rape while dumping rubble of a building.

A case has been registered against the accused by the Sabzi Mandi police, which will be proceeded by the further investigation, he said.

In a statement, SP Industrial Zone Saud Khan informed the media that the recovered girl is mentally disturbed and has been handed over to the Victim Handling Team of Islamabad Police Gender Protection Unit.

Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Muhammad Ahsan Younas appreciated the efforts of SP Industrial Zone Saud Khan and his team for his quick response to the call and saving the girl from becoming a victim of gang rape.

He also advised citizens to keep a vigil over suspicious elements around and immediately alert police on the emergency helpline to arrest the criminals.

Source: The Nation