SARGODHA: Prime suspect ,Arslan, in the alleged rape and murder of eight-yearold ,Mintha Zahra, killed in a police encounter during an operation conducted by Crime Control Department (CCD) for the recovery of the evidence, investigators said on Wednesday, as authorities continued to probe the case that has shocked residents of the city.
Speaking to Newsman, Crime Control Department (CCD) Sargodha Investigating Officer Waqar Ahmed said that the suspect had been arrested in connection with the murder of the minor girl
and was later handed over to the CCD for further investigation.
The officer said a CCD team was taking the suspect to the Jhal Chakian area for identification and recovery of the alleged murder weapon when armed men allegedly opened fire on the police.
“The team was conducting investigation-related proceedings when unidentified accomplices of the accused attacked the police,” Waqar Ahmed said. “Police retaliated, and during the exchange
of fire, the main accused was killed.”
He added that the investigation was still underway, and more arrests were expected in the coming days.
The case has sparked outrage across Sargodha after the body of the young girl was recovered from a building located near her home only hours after she went missing.Waqar Ahmed said investigators had received the preliminary post-mortem report, which
indicated that the child died as a result of severe physical violence.
“The initial medical findings suggest that the victim’s death was caused by torture and violence,”
He said. “However, forensic examinations and additional medical reports are still awaited. It will only be possible to determine whether sexual assault occurred after the completion of the medical and forensic process.”
Police officials said investigators were relying on forensic evidence and laboratory analysis to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the crime.
An FIR was registered at City Police Station Sargodha on the complaint of the victim’s father under sections relating to murder and offences against a child. According to police, four individuals, including the main suspect, were nominated in the case.
A police official at City Police Station, who is familiar with the investigation, provided details of the
events leading up to the discovery of the child’s body.
According to the official, Mintha Zahra left her home late Monday morning to purchase an item from a nearby general store situated approximately 200 feet away from her residence.
Investigators believe the child left her house at around 11:15am. When she failed to return within a few minutes, her family became concerned and began searching the neighbourhood on their own.“Her parents realised something was wrong when she did not return home,” the official said. “The family searched for nearly an hour before contacting police.”
The missing child was reported to police at approximately 12:45pm, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement authorities.Police soon collected footage from surveillance cameras installed in the area. According to
investigators, only one CCTV camera was available in the street where the child lived.
