The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police announced on Sunday that the suspect involved in an alleged rape of a woman at one of the trails in Margalla Hills had been arrested.
According to a news statement, the arrest came after three days of relentless efforts by the police.
Late last night, the authorities were able to locate and arrest the suspect based on technical grounds, despite the victim’s lack of cooperation with the investigation, said the police.
The statement also highlighted that the initial medical examination did not provide conclusive evidence of rape, indicating no signs of resistance or marks caused by bushes along the trail.
Earlier, the police had tweeted that they were conducting a thorough investigation into the incident based on the victim’s complaint. They cited the victim’s medical report, which allegedly showed no evidence of assault. The police further mentioned the existence of a friendship between the victim and the suspect.
The statement emphasized that the Margalla Hill trails were safe, assuring that drone surveillance and effective patrolling in the area. It also stated that the exact location of the incident was still being determined and that “the police are committed to investigating all aspects of the case”.
Earlier, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Kohsar police station under Section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the FIR, the complainant, a resident of Muridke, claimed that she had received a WhatsApp message two months ago from someone posing as an accountant in the education department, promising assistance in securing a job.
The complainant alleged that the suspect demanded Rs50,000 in exchange for his help.
On Wednesday, July 12, the woman followed the suspect’s instructions and traveled to Rawalpindi, where they met at the last bus stop of Tench Bhatta.
She handed over her curriculum vitae and Rs30,000, with the remaining Rs20,000 to be paid upon receiving a written employment order.
Instead of proceeding with an interview, the suspect allegedly took her to a secluded area in the jungle at Margalla Hills’ trail 3 on Thursday, July 13, around 3 pm. There, he allegedly raped her at gunpoint, warning her not to make any noise on the threat of her life. Afterward, the suspect dropped her off at the Tench Bhatta bus stop and issued further warnings.
The victim has demanded strict legal action against the suspect and has undergone a medical examination at Polyclinic, accompanied by a female police constable, in order to gather evidence.
