LAHORE: The prime suspect in the assault and murder of a seven-year-old boy in Lahore's Green Town area was killed during a foiled escape bid, while being shifted to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the provincial capital city on Monday, police sources claimed.

Teenager Shoaib was the prime suspect in the murder of the seven-year-old boy whose body was found hanged at a mosque on Jan 2, a day after he was kidnapped near his house in Lahore’s Green Town.

Read: Boy assaulted, murdered

Police had taken a number of suspects in custody before carrying out a thorough investigation that included DNA and polygraph tests. The other suspects were later released.

The murder mystery was solved after the DNA report of 17-year-old Shoaib, had confirmed him as the convict.

Also read: Police ‘solve’ minor’s murder mystery

Shoaib was being transported to the ATC today when he allegedly made an escape bid after snatching the rifle of a police guard escorting him when the vehicle he was travelling in neared Muslim Town underpass, police sources claimed.

Sources added that the suspect was killed in an ensuing encounter.

Also read Minor's murder: Lahore ATC remands teenager, orders prayer leader's release

Initially a video circulating on social media websites had shown a muezzin (prayer caller) 'confessing’ to the gruesome assault and murder in front of local police.

The video was not verified by police nor recognised by the court hearing the case.

Later a probe by the CIA police had declared the muezzin innocent in the murder, following which he was released on the orders of Lahore's ATC No. 2.

Also read: Muezzin cleared, teenager now prime suspect in murder of 6-year-old

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains had claimed during a press conference that Shoaib, a hairdresser in Behari colony, had confessed to his crime during investigation.

Capital City Police spokesperson Nayab Haider had told Dawn that police had taken eight suspects into custody for interrogation, including the prayer caller.

He said the prayer caller confessed to only raping the boy but did not confess killing which was confirmed by the DNA report.

The spokesman had also said the prayer caller would be booked for sexually assaulting the minor boy.