Amraiz Khan
In what can be described as a prompt response, the Chung Police on Monday arrested a rickshaw driver and his accomplice for allegedly raping a woman and her teenage daughter near Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Avenue in the provincial capital.
The main suspects were identified as Umar Farooq, the rickshaw driver, and Mansab, his accomplice.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had taken notice and had ordered arrest of the suspects within next 48 hours. The CM had sought a detailed report from Lahore Capital Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar.
The horrific incident of rape of the woman and her teenage daughter took place a week after the shameful incident of sexual harassment of TikToker Ayesha Akram in Greater Iqbal Park on the Independence Day came to the limelight.
However, the police conducted raids at different places and arrested both the suspects before the given deadline.
According to the FIR, a copy of which is available with this scribe, the 35-year-old woman told police that she and her 15-year-old daughter had reached Lahore from Vehari in a bus on Sunday at around 10pm.
She said that they hired a rickshaw to travel to her sister’s house in Officers Colony, Saddr Cantonment Board.
The FIR said that the rickshaw driver and his accomplice took the woman and her daughter to a deserted place near LDA Avenue, and raped both the woman and her teenage daughter.
The woman said that she and her daughter continuously cried for help but the suspects put their hands on their mouths. Luckily, they saw the light of a car that stopped near the spot, and they cried again for help.
The man in the car called the police on 15, and meanwhile the suspects fled away while leaving their rickshaw behind.
She said that the suspects snatched her cellphone and Rs5,000 cash. The FIR said that the suspects could be identified if they were produced before her.
Following arrest of the suspects, CCPO Ghulam Mahmood Dogar addressed a press conference and revealed that rickshaw driver Umar Farooq and his accomplice Munsab had track record of criminal activities and were wanted by the police for their involvement in multiple cases.
“Suspect Umar Farooq is a habitual offender,” said CCPO Dogar, while appreciating Chung DSP Javed Siddique.
“DSP Siddiq took prompt action along with his team and used the latest technology to arrest the culprits,” said the CCPO.
Dogar said that the suspects would be produced before the court after fulfilling all legal aspects for proper punishment of the suspects.
He said, “Rape suspects do not deserve any leniency,”. On other hand, the victims were taken to Jinnah hospital for medical examination, and the report confirmed that both mother and daughter were sexually abused late on Sunday night.
