NAROWAL: Two members of a gang, who allegedly gang-raped women and blackmailed them by making videos, were killed in firing by their accomplices on Sunday night.

Police said the arrested suspects ‘M’ and ‘Z’ were being taken to the Nadu police station to identify and arrest their other accomplices who started firing on the team near BRB Canal. The two suspects got killed during a cross-fire while their accomplices managed their escape DPO Muhammad Naveed Malik reached the spot along with a contingent on the information of firing on the team and blocked entrance and exit points.

DSP headquarters Muhammad Khalil Malik said the police team remained safe from the firing of the unknown suspects while the official van got damaged.

The DSP told Dawn that five unknown suspects had opened fire on the police team in a bid to get their two arrested accomplices released. He claimed that they were killed in firing by their accomplices. The bodies were shifted to Narowal DHQ hospital for post-mortem examination.

Khalil Malik said the suspects used to harass the families who came for sightseeing on the track of BRB canal. They used to abduct college and university girls and women, allegedly gang-rape them and also make videos. He said the suspects used to blackmail the families and extort money.

DPO Naveed Malik said the suspects were wanted by different police stations.

He said ‘B’ of Kot Ghaman, Tehsil Narowal, had complained to the police that three suspects ‘M’ , ‘Z’ and ‘A’ had visited her house after making videos of her nieces on the track of BRB Canal. The Badumalhi police had registered an FIR against 13 suspects on April 27 on the request of the woman.

On May 8, ‘Mu’ of Kot Lakha Singh village complained to the police that ‘M’ , ‘Z’ and ‘J’ along with their accomplices abducted his family members, sexually harassed them and made videos.

DSP Khalil Malik said police searched the track of BRB canal for 30 days and arrested five of the 19 suspects nominated in the FIR.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, taking notice of the incidents of rape and sexual harassment of women in Narowal, also sought a report from the IG police.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2024