Two missing women, toddler found dead in Dinga pond

GUJRAT: The bodies of three females, including a two-year-old girl, who had gone missing from the Dinga area a day earlier, were recovered from a pond in Mohallah Chaar Gah , police said.

The deceased were identified as Arooj Fatima, Haleema Sadia and two-year-old Ruku Fatima. According to police, all three had gone missing from the jurisdiction of Dinga police station on August 25.

Following their disappearance, a kidnapping case had been registered at Dinga police station on the complaint of the family. A search operation was underway when their bodies were found in a pond in Mohallah Chaar Gah.

Police said a heavy contingent was deployed at the scene after the recovery of the bodies. Crime Scene Unit personnel and teams of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) also reached the site and collected evidence for further investigation.

The bodies were later shifted to a hospital for post-mortem examinations.

According to preliminary police findings, the three victims appeared to have died due to drowning. However, police said the matter was still being investigated from different angles and the final cause and circumstances of their deaths would be determined after the completion of medico-legal and forensic procedures.

The recovery of the bodies sent shockwaves through the locality, particularly because a kidnapping case had been registered only a day earlier after the three females went missing.

District Police Officer Gujrat Faisal Shehzad visited the scene following the recovery of the bodies. He was briefed by police officers and also gathered information from residents of the area about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The DPO directed the officers concerned to conduct a complete and transparent investigation and examine all possible aspects of the case.

He said the legal and investigative process should be completed strictly on merit and no aspect of the incident should be overlooked.

Faisal Shehzad also met the bereaved family members and expressed his condolences over the deaths. He assured them that police would complete all legal and investigative formalities in accordance with the law.

Police officials said the post-mortem reports and forensic examination of evidence collected from the scene would play an important role in determining whether the deaths resulted solely from drowning or whether any other factor was involved.

Investigators are also examining the timeline of the disappearance and other circumstances leading up to the recovery of the bodies from the pond.

The Dinga police said further proceedings would be carried out in light of the post-mortem findings, forensic evidence and the results of the ongoing investigation.

The bodies were handed over for further medico-legal procedures as police continued their investigation into what officials described as a tragic and sensitive case.

No final conclusion regarding the circumstances of the deaths had been announced by police at the time of filing this report, while investigators continued to collect evidence and record statements from relevant persons.