Mysterious group in Rawalpindi stabs women after dark

RAWALPINDI: Fear grips the city as police continue to search for a group that has been out stabbing women after dark.

The group has attacked 32 women in the city since February, of whom one died while others were injured.

All of the attacks took place in the remits of Morgah police station, which include Kot Kalian and Rabia Bungalows.

In the latest attack, the group reportedly wielding a knife stabbed a nurse to death and injured two others on Sunday night.  

The perpetrators have wounded several women in the vicinity and police are already on a hunt for them, officials say.

What has residents as well as authorities perplexed is the fact that the attackers make no demands and do not discriminate. They have been targeting women irrespective of age, attire and appearance.

Around 25 women were injured with a knife-like object in the first three weeks of February this year.

Six months later, four women were attacked last week. On Sunday night, three women were attacked of whom nurse Anum Naz succumbed to her wounds. 

The renewed attacks and the nurse’s death have once again spread terror in the city.

Malik Kausar, SHO Morgah police station, said that three suspects were caught earlier and even now policemen clad in civil clothes are outside.

One victim, named Salma, said her family no longer lets her go outside. “I can’t go to work anymore. These attackers can stab any woman in the stomach, legs, or anywhere.”

Another resident, Mrs Khursheed, said: “These attacks are only increasing with time here. Women going anywhere alone are attacked with a dagger. Some were even stabbed thrice. We need the government to protect us.”

Residents demand that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar take notice of the matter and catch the attackers so they can go about their routine without fear.