Minor girl assaulted in Lakki Marwat, teenage suspect held

LAKKI MARWAT: A nine-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in the Wanda Mirwali Surband area of Lakki Marwat on Monday, police said, adding that a suspect was arrested the following day.

According to police, the incident took place inside the boundary wall of a drinking water tube-well. They said the girl had gone to a water tank next to the tube-well to fetch drinking water when the suspect approached her.

Police said the girl told investigators that Tanveer came out of his house, moved towards her and forcibly took her inside the enclosed area, where she was assaulted. She told police that she cried out for help, but no one came.

After managing to get away, the girl returned home and informed her mother about what had happened, police said. Her mother then immediately contacted the girl’s father by phone.

Police said RPO Bannu Sajjad Khan and DPO Nazir Khan took notice of the incident and instructed local police to apprehend the accused. They said a case was registered at Lakki city police station under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with punishment for rape, and Section 53 of the Child Protection and Welfare Act concerning sexual abuse against children.

Police said the suspect, identified as 14-year-old Tanveer, was arrested during a raid. They added that the detained suspect had been shifted to the police station for interrogation.

The latest incident comes days after another grave crime against a child in Lakki Marwat district. A three-year-old girl was raped and later killed by unidentified suspect or suspects in the Langerkhel Hathi Khan area.

The assault on the nine-year-old girl has added to concerns following the earlier killing of the three-year-old in the district. Police have said they acted after senior officers took notice of the latest case and directed immediate action.