SARGODHA: A Crime Control Department team shot and killed the prime suspect in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl during an encounter in Sargodha on Wednesday, a private TV channel reported.
The incident occurred when the police were escorting the suspect for a recovery operation. His associates suddenly opened fire on the police party, triggering a shootout. The main accused died on the spot during the retaliatory fire by the law enforcement team.
The development followed the arrest of the main suspect on Tuesday for his involvement in the rape and brutal murder of Muntaha Zahra. Sources told that the suspect, identified as Arsalan, suffered from drug addiction and maintained a criminal record involving similar activities.
Police officials had already apprehended three accomplices on the first day of the investigation. The police continued to interrogate Hanif, a local shopkeeper, his son, and another custody suspect regarding their connection to the tragic event.
District Police Officer Sohaib Ashraf had previously formed special teams to track down and arrest the perpetrators. According to the First Information Report, Zahra visited a local shop to buy some items when Arsalan assaulted her and subsequently murdered her using a sharp-edged weapon.
The investigation also revealed that the victim’s father had engaged in a heated altercation with the shopkeeper a few days prior to the incident. Meanwhile, CCTV footage captured the final moments of the young girl as she walked into the shop, after which she disappeared from view. The police are continuing their investigation into the wider network connected to the crime scene.
