One of the four suspects involved in the gang rape of a woman in front of her husband was allegedly killed by his own accomplices during an encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD) near Jorian Bridge, within the Kassoki police precincts of Hafizabad district, on Thursday.

According to CCD sources, a team conducted a raid on a location along an open drain after receiving information about the suspects' presence near Jorian Bridge.

The suspects opened fire on the police, who returned fire. When the firing ceased, police found the body of one of the four suspects involved, identified as Khawar, a rickshaw driver.

CCD officials stated that Khawar was killed by the gunfire of his own accomplices. The remaining suspects managed to escape.

The body was shifted to Hafizabad District Headquarters Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police have registered a case against the fleeing suspects under sections 302, 324, 353, 186, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as the Punjab Arms (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, based on the report filed by CCD Sub-Inspector Ali Hassan.

An investigation is underway.

On May 3, eight individuals, including four named suspects, were charged in connection with the gang rape of a woman that took place on April 25.

According to reports, the incident took place when the couple, travelling from Nowshera Virkan, stopped at a rest area. While they were on a motorcycle, a man approached them, verbally abused the wife, and physically assaulted her. Shortly after, a group of armed men arrived and forcibly took the couple to a secluded area near a graveyard, as detailed in a first information report (FIR) lodged by the husband at Kassoki Police Station on Tuesday.

The FIR stated that the suspects tied the husband up, forced him to lie on the ground, and then gang-raped his wife despite his repeated pleas for mercy. Both were subjected to physical violence and robbery; the assailants stole two mobile phones, two tolas of gold, and Rs 2,500 in cash.

The FIR also mentioned that the suspects allegedly forced the couple to perform sexual acts in front of them, recording the assault on video. The footage was later circulated on social media.

The FIR was registered only after the video surfaced online. The couple told police they had initially refrained from reporting the crime out of fear.

Police are conducting raids to arrest the fleeing suspects.