GUJAR KHAN: The Jhelum police produced the seminary teacher, who was accused of sexually assaulting three of his pupils and attempting to abuse seven others, to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) Lahore along with his victims on Monday, the police said.

Rana Nadeem Tariq, the Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Saddar circle, told Dawn that the teacher was accused of sexually assaulting three of his students.

According to Ehsan Shah, the SHO of Dina, the police on receiving the complaints from the parents had arrested the accused after registering an FIR under sections 377-B and 376-iii of PPC on April 4.

The police had produced the accused and the victims before the court where the parents of the three victims had requested the court to exempt their children from medical examinations at the hospital and the court had reportedly accepted their requests. The accused, however, was remanded in police custody till Tuesday.

On Monday, the DSP Nadeem Tariq said the accused as well as the three major victims were sent to the PFSA Lahore and their DNA tests have been completed. The unwashed clothes of the accused and some used tissue papers were also recovered from the side room of his residence and were produced for DNA tests.

SDPO Nadeem said that almost all the legal formalities have been completed. The DSP said, “There is no delay on the part of police in this case. We shall make sure to file challan within stipulated period he further said that the 377-B and 376-iii were absolutely non-bailable offences.”

The official said the police would also seek the extension in the physical remand of the accused for further investigation on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2024