SWAT: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and shot dead in the Madyan area of Bahrain Tehsil, with police arresting a Forest Department watchman in connection with the case.
Police identified the arrested suspect as Sultan Muhammad, son of Sher Zaman, and said a pistol was also recovered from his possession.
According to Madyan Station House Officer (SHO) Aziz Ahmad, the deceased, Ishmal, daughter of the late Jamaluddin, had gone to a neighbouring house, where she was allegedly assaulted before being shot.
Police reached the location after receiving information about the incident and shifted the girl’s body to Civil Hospital Madyan. A post-mortem examination and medical examination were subsequently conducted.
Police said the medical examination confirmed evidence consistent with the alleged sexual assault, while investigators are collecting further evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.
Madyan Police registered a case against Sultan Muhammad on the complaint of the victim’s sister under various provisions of law, including murder, and launched a detailed investigation.
Family members said Ishmal was a second-grade student at a private school in Madyan. According to the family, she had appeared in her English paper for the second-term examinations on Wednesday before returning home and later going to the neighbouring house.
Police are questioning the arrested suspect to determine the circumstances and alleged motive behind the incident and to gather additional evidence.
The incident has caused widespread concern and anger among local residents, civil society representatives and human rights activists, who have called for a transparent investigation and the strictest punishment under the law if the allegations are proven in court.
The investigation remains ongoing.