Hafizabad gang-rape case: Accused killed in police encounter

HAFIZABAD: A suspect accused of gang-rape of a woman in front of her husband was killed in an alleged police encounter in Hafizabad city of Punjab, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The incident occurred when a couple, returning home on a motorcycle after visiting relatives, was intercepted by armed men at a deserted location.

The woman was abducted and raped in front of her husband near a graveyard by armed men. The suspects also filmed the assault and later uploaded the video to the internet.

Police registered a case against eight suspects on charges of abduction, rape, sexual assault, and robbery, and have arrested several individuals in connection with the case.

According to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), one of the accused, Khawar Ansari, was being taken to identify his accomplices when the police convoy came under fire by unidentified men attempting to rescue him. This led to a gun battle.

During the exchange of fire, Khawar Ansari was fatally shot, allegedly by bullets fired by his own accomplices. The attackers managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

Earlier, a maternal uncle accused of raping and murdering his seven-year-old niece, was killed on Tuesday in an alleged police encounter in Rawalpindi, ARY News reported.

The minor girl went missing within the limits of Mundra police station while playing outside her house.

After the missing report, the police swung into action and recovered the body of the missing girl from an under-construction building.

The body of the girl was shifted to the hospital where post-mortem examination report confirmed that she had been raped.

During the investigation, the girl’s maternal uncle, Sunil, was arrested. Police described Sunil as a drug addict who lived near the victim’s home. He confessed to the murder during interrogation.