Four relatives who 'gang-raped, murdered' 9yo girl, shot dead in police custody

Four accused in the case pertaining to the gang-rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl in Bahawalpur were killed in custody following an attack on a police vehicle, officials said.

According to reports, the accused were killed by their accomplices' firing on a police party near Southern Bypass when the suspects were being transported for recovery in connection with the case.

Police said they were attacked by motorcyclists within the limits of Saddar Police Station, leading to an alleged encounter with the gunmen in darkness, resulting in the death of all four accused.

The suspects, identified as Umar, Ans, Kamran and Mahmood, were relatives of victim Fiza Bibi, a student of class three.

The police had arrested the accused two days ago under the supervision of ASP Agha Fasihur Rehman, with SHO Rao Shehzad Babar and his team successfully tracing the culprits following a DNA match.

According to reports, the perpetrators – two uncles and two cousins of the victim – assaulted the little girl and then slit her throat.

A special investigation team headed by ASP (Sadar) Circle had been formed to conduct investigation into the case.

Fiza Bibi had gone missing when she left her house to fetch water from a nearby water pump. The family, along with locals, were looking for the minor when they had spotted her coming from a nearby agricultural field, bleeding from the neck. The girl had passed away shortly after.

Following the incident, Bahawalpur DPO Asad Sarfraz Khan had assigned ASP Agha Fasihur Rehman and SHO Rao Shehzad Babar the task of tracking down the perpetrators.

The investigation was carried out with the help of the Forensic Science Agency and Crime and Cyber Division (CCD). The murder weapon was also recovered.