A 12-year-old girl who went out of her house to collect firewood on Thursday night was found at a nearby house the next morning after allegedly being kidnapped and sexually assaulted in the Westridge area, Rawalpindi.
According to the police, the girl was found while the suspect, identified as Nazimullah, was allegedly taking her away. The girl’s relatives and local residents caught the suspect and started beating him after she told her father that she had been taken to a sitting room where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.
The girl’s father, Gulfraz, told police that his daughter had gone out to get firewood from the street but did not return. He searched for her throughout the night but could not find her.
During the search the following morning, Gulfraz said that he saw Nazimullah taking his daughter with him. When he stopped him and asked where he was taking her, the girl told him that the suspect had lured her and taken her to a nearby sitting room.
A crowd gathered at the scene after the girl’s relatives confronted the suspect and began beating him. A video showing people assaulting the suspect has also surfaced online.
The suspect managed to flee before police reached the scene.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Babar Sarfraz Alpa took notice of the incident and directed police to reach the area, oversee the investigation and arrest the suspect.
Police registered a case on the complaint of the girl’s father, who said he works as a labourer and lives in the Sulemanabad area.
Police officials said efforts were underway to arrest Nazimullah and expressed hope that he would be taken into custody soon.
