BAHAWALPUR: The Makhdoom Rashid police in Multan claim to have arrested the suspect who killed a 12-year son of his employer even after receiving a ransom of Rs1.3 million.

The body of the victim, Hamdan, was recovered from a nullah on Saturday night.

According to police, suspect Dilbar worked at the barber shop of Hamdan’s father where his arrears were due. On May 27, the suspect went to Hamdan’s house in the Fatimah Jinnah Town, Multan, and took him along on his motorcycle on the pretext of buying him a cold drink.

Dilbar served the child with a drink adulterated with valium tablets. After having the drink, the child fell unconscious. The suspect bundled the unconscious child in a sack and threw him along the nullah.

According to police, the next day, Dilbar went to the nullah where he heard the screams of Hamdan. At this, he strangled the boy with an electric wire.

After killing the boy, the suspect demanded Rs2.5m ransom from his family but agreed to take Rs1.3m. The family paid the ransom amount to the suspect’s accomplices at a location in Khanewal. The suspect promised the family that the boy would reach home after four days.

Dilbar himself fled to Lahore. Police traced the location of the suspect with geofencing and arrested him.

On his identification, Hamdan’s body and ransom amount were recovered on Saturday night.

RAPE: A man allegedly raped a five-year girl at Basti Ahmed Yar in the limits of Vehari City Police Station on Sunday.

According to the district police spokesman, the minor girl was lured by the suspect to a deserted place where he raped her and fled, leaving the child in critical condition.

After the disappearance of the child, her worried family searched for her and found her in serious condition. They reported the incident to the police who shifted the victim to the district headquarters hospital for medical examination and launched hunt for the suspect.

Police claimed to have arrested the suspect within hours of the incident.

INMATE’S DEATH: A prisoner died under mysterious circumstances at the New Central Jail, Bahawalpur.

Fahim was serving nine months’ sentence and he had served six months in a case.

The jail officials alleged that his death was caused due to a heart attack while his family members, including his brother Naeem, alleged that he was tortured to death by the jail staff.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024