Report confirms woman’s torture before rape
MULTAN – The medical examination of a woman allegedly gang-raped by some policemen the other day has confirmed that she was tortured.
Reports said ‘N’ and her sister ‘S’ were abducted by a policeman, Shaukat, and his three accomplices on Tuesday afternoon in New Multan Police Station precinct.
Later, the alleged culprits took the two women to the upper storey of a house at Baqirabad situated in the jurisdiction of Allapa police station and subjected ‘N’ to criminal assault. When the ailing father of the victims approached the NMPS, the officials refused to register his complaint.
However, an FIR was instituted late Tuesday night only when some notables of the area intervened. Subsequently, the prime suspect was rounded up.
The medical examination of both the women was conducted at the Nishter Hospital on Wednesday. It revealed that ‘N’ had multiple bruises on her body. Samples had also been sent for chemical examination and DNA test of the swabs for a detailed report.
According to the police station officials, Shaukat had stated that he had illicit relations with ‘N’ and on Tuesday afternoon she and her sister surprised him with their visit when he was enjoying company of two other women at his place.
‘N’ could not bear it and started throwing household articles at him and his guests out of jealousy, he said, adding he overpowered her to avoid further damage.
Meanwhile, a team of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan led by its Multan task force coordinator, Advocate Rashid Rehman, also met the victims at their rented house in Block W of New Multan Colony.
When contacted, Rashid Rehman said the victim ‘N’ had told the HRCP team that she did not recognize Shaukat prior to the incident. She said the suspect and his accomplices forcibly tried to pour liquor into their mouth. She, however, told the commission that only Shaukat subjected her to rape.
She said when her condition deteriorated, Shaukat refrained others from going ahead with their nefarious plans saying: “I have already done enough with her.”
Rashid Rehman expressed concern over the growing number of rape incidents having involvement of policemen.
Not to forget that two street singers were gang-raped few months ago by six men when they were returning home after performing at a marriage party. The victims had alleged that the perpetrators had kidnapped them in a police mobile and that four of their tormentors were in police uniform.
However, the Multan police had acquitted the men in uniform of the charge and challaned two civilians in the case claiming that only they were involved in the incident despite the repeated statements of the victims that they were tortured and raped by policemen.
Source: Dawn
Date:10/28/2004