One killed during protest against rape, murder of minor girl in Karachi

KARACHI: One person was killed and several others injured after protesters demanding justice for a minor girl who was killed after being raped in Manghopir clashed with the police near Kati Pahari Tuesday afternoon. 

Six-year-old Rabia was found dead in the city’s Manghopir area on Monday. A post-mortem report revealed she had been raped before being strangled.  

The protesters, who had also brought the minor's body to the protest, blocked the road leading to Kati Pahari and demanded authorities take notice of the incident and arrest those who committed the heinous crime.

Engaging in an effort to negotiate with the protesters, the police assured them that DNA samples have been taken from the body and the investigation would continue once the report is completed.

The family members of the girl agreed to call off the protest, but the others refused to leave till justice was dispensed. 

Upon this, the police baton-charged the protesters and started aerial firing in an effort to disperse them. 

As a result, two protesters were severely injured and taken to Jinnah hospital where one, identified as Abdul Rehman, succumbed to his wounds.

The executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Dr Seemin Jamali shared that the deceased had sustained a bullet wound on his head. 

Protesters also pelted stones at the policemen, in which at least one police officer was injured.

Sindh IG seeks detailed report 

Taking notice of the incident, Inspector General of Police Sindh AD Khawaja summoned a detailed report from SSP West Omar Shahid over the matter.

He remarked that the family of the victim should be taken into confidence, adding that the investigation should be conducted on the basis of evidence and statements of the girl’s family members.

Speaking about the incident, SSP West Omar Shahid remarked that efforts were being made to portray the incident as political, adding that the Kati Pahari protest was baseless.

He shared that the deceased’s father had shared name of three suspects, of which two have been arrested. “Operations are being conducted to arrest the third suspect,” he added.

According to hospital sources, the girl's post-mortem was conducted at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital which proved that she was raped before being tortured to death. 

Minor found strangulated in Manghopir   

The six-year-old girl, Rabia, was found dead in Manghopir late Monday.

As per details, the child went missing from her house on Monday afternoon and her body was found atop a hill near Nooruddin Goth a little after midnight.

Manghopir police station’s duty officer (DO) Ijaz said the victim’s father visited the police station at 9pm on Monday regarding his daughter’s disappearance.

“In his statement, the father told us the victim left her house at around 2pm on Monday after her aunt slapped her for refusing to go the seminary,” said the DO, adding a call about a child’s dead body was received at 12:40am later.