RAWALPINDI: Bodies of a couple and their four-year-old son were found close to the bank of a nullah in Gorakhpur, Adiala Road, on Monday, police said.

A motorcycle and a purse containing some items of cosmetics were found lying close by. SP Ghias Gul said: “The murderer(s) fired three bullets into the mouth of the man and smashed the skulls of the woman and child with axe after killing them.”

The SP said: “Apparently, it is a case of honour killing.”

No CNIC or visiting card was found from the purse or pockets of the man which could help police trace their families.

The police, however, are making announcements through loudspeakers and have alerted police across the district. “If anybody’s loved ones are missing since yesterday (Sunday) night he/she should contact the emergency police or DHQ hospital,” SI Zaheeruddin Babar told Dawn.

He said it was yet to ascertain whether the murdered couple was husband and wife and the child was their son.

“Police will send blood samples for DNA test to establish the relation between the couple and the child,” he said.

Some passers-by spotted the bodies lying at a deserted place near the bank of a nullah and informed the police.

“The victims, including the child, were tortured before being shot dead,” SHO inspector Allah Yar said.

He said initial investigations suggested that the couple and their son were travelling on their motorcycle sometime last night when they were killed.

“Evidence collected from the scene did not suggest that the man had committed suicide after killing his wife and son because all of them were tortured,” the investigating officer told Dawn.

He said the child was wearing a short and a half-sleeve shirt. The bodies were shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2016