DPO claims the encounter took place when the CCD was taking the main accused to recover the weapon allegedly used in a crime
SARGODHA:
The main suspect in the alleged rape and murder of seven-year-old Muntaha Zahra was killed in an altercation in Sargodha on Wednesday, district police spokesperson Khurram confirmed while speaking to The Express PK Press Club.
Muntaha was allegedly raped and murdered the day before in a grocery store building. The police then arrested four suspects and produced them before Principal Civil Magistrate Chaudhry Imran Ali, who remanded them in police custody for six days for physical interrogation. Police officials said the preliminary investigation suggested a store employee may have attempted to molest the girl. When she resisted and raised the alarm, the suspect allegedly killed her.
According to Khurram, the encounter took place when Crime Control Department (CCD) officials were taking the main accused, identified as Arsalan, to recover the weapon allegedly used in the crime.
He said suspected associates of Arsalan opened fire near the Jhal Chakian canal bridge when the accused was accompanying the CCD team, leading to an exchange of fire.
“During the exchange of fire, Arsalan was fatally shot by the attackers,” Khurram said.
The spokesperson said the alleged attackers managed to flee the scene. “CCD officials have launched an investigation into the incident and are searching for the accused,” he added.
Police had previously arrested four suspects in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the minor.
Learn more: Four arrested for murder of seven-year-old girl after alleged attempted attack in Sargodha
The murder
Muntaha, a resident of Block 8, had left her home to buy sugar from a nearby grocery store and disappeared, after which her family lodged a complaint with the police. After registering the report, police launched a search operation and examined footage from CCTV cameras installed in the area to find the missing child.
Footage showed Muntaha entering the grocery store but not leaving. Acting on the front line, law enforcement searched the grocery store building and found the child’s body. Police collected evidence from the crime scene to apprehend the suspects.
The city police station registered a case based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, naming four people, including the main suspect, Arslan.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the main accused, Arslan, had threatened Muntaha’s father during an argument and warned him of the consequences which he would remember for the rest of his life. Police were investigating whether the threats were linked to the subsequent crime.
Later, Sargodha police arrested the main accused, Arslan, along with three other accomplices after a case was registered at the city police station under charges of murder and other relevant legal provisions.
The investigation was then transferred to the CCD.
