Self-immolation by rape victim: Three policemen held

A magistrate in Multan on Sunday sent a suspect in the Muzaffargarh rape case on a three-day physical remand while three police officials were also detained under orders of the Punjab chief minister for negligence in the rape case of a teenaged student who died of burn injuries in hospital on Friday after self-immolation when police released one of the accused.

During the hearing of the case, the suspect, identified as Nadir, denied all accusations levelled against him. The magistrate ordered that Nadir should be handed over to the police.

Police said they have collected evidence from the scene of the crime including the clothes of both the victim and the suspect. DNA samples were collected from the clothes and have been sent for lab analysis. Police have also found a weapon at the scene.

The rape victim, 18-year old Amina, had set herself on fire on March 13 in front of the Mir Hazar Khan police station of the city after hearing that the suspects were granted bail.

With 70 per cent of her body burnt, the girl succumbed to her injuries on March 14 in Multan’s Nishtar hospital.

On March 15, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif flew to Muzaffargarh where he met parents of the girl, suspended some top officials of district administration, ordered arrest of three police officials blamed for favouring the accused and announced Rs0.5 million for the family of the victim.

Earlier, the mother of the victim had also threatened to set herself on fire if justice did not prevail. — news@khaleejtimes.com