Autopsy confirms rape of five-year-old girl found dead in Haripur

The post-mortem examination of a five-year-old girl who went missing from outside her home in Haripur has

HARIPUR: The post-mortem examination of a five-year-old girl who went missing from outside her home in Haripur has confirmed that she was sexually assaulted before her death, according to the autopsy report.

The child disappeared on August 10 and was found dead nearly two weeks later. Police recovered her body on August 24 from an unused well located inside a warehouse, around a short distance from her home.

The autopsy found evidence of rape. Doctors who conducted the examination also collected samples from the child’s body for DNA testing and other forensic analysis. The samples were handed over to police as part of the investigation.

Doctors said the child died from severe blood loss and shock.

Police have arrested four suspects in connection with the case. The fourth suspect was produced before a magistrate on Thursday and was sent on judicial remand.

Investigators said the fourth suspect is a local resident. According to police, he allegedly lured the child by telling her that her father was waiting nearby and asking her to follow him.

District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur said the police were continuing their investigation. He has also sought the formation of a prosecutors’ panel to examine the case and determine whether provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act can be applied.

The DPO said all four suspects were juveniles. He stressed that the investigation and any legal proceedings would therefore have to strictly follow the relevant legal provisions.

Police said the girl went missing at around 6pm on August 10. An initial inquiry was launched under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A formal FIR was registered on August 12 under Section 364-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to kidnapping or abduction with intent to murder.

Investigators used CCTV footage and geofencing to trace the suspects. Three suspects were initially arrested. Police said one of them later recorded a confessional statement before a duty magistrate.

According to the investigation, the suspects allegedly abducted the girl and took her towards an area near Model Town. Police allege that she was sexually assaulted there.

The initial suspects did not reveal where the child had been left after the alleged assault, according to investigators. Police then obtained CCTV footage from another house in the area. The footage helped investigators identify and trace the fourth suspect.

Police said the fourth suspect subsequently provided information about the location of the body. Acting on that information, officers searched a warehouse near a link road leading towards Haripur University and recovered the girl’s body from an unused well.