Key Takeaways
- A young shepherd was gang-raped by 12 men and died from his injuries.
- The incident occurred in the Cholistan desert near Toba Jinnawala, Bahawalnagar.
- Five suspects have been arrested so far.
BAHAWALPUR: A young shepherd who was gang-raped by 12 men in the Cholistan desert has succumbed to his injuries at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) on Tuesday. The incident, which took place near Toba Jinnawala, Bahawalnagar, highlights the ongoing challenges of violence against women and youth in rural areas.
According to a police spokesperson, the shepherd was abducted by one of the suspects on his motorcycle from Toba Jinnawala on July 1st. He had been tending over 40 sheep for grazing in the area. After eight days, his brother Mohsin visited him and found him in critical condition.
Mohsin immediately shifted his brother to BVH and informed Marot police about the incident on July 15th. The police registered a case against twelve suspects and arranged a post-mortem at the hospital. Five of the suspects have been arrested so far, while the remaining seven are still at large.
The spokesperson further stated that the victim had informed his brother that he was administered an intoxicant drink by the 12 men, who then proceeded to rape him and steal his sheep. This incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of rural communities in Pakistan, particularly those engaged in livestock farming.
In a separate incident, Habibur Rehman, a baker employee from Vehari, died six days after being burnt in a gas cylinder fire along with 13 others, including three children, at Nishtar Hospital Multan’s burn unit. His body was later shifted to Vehari for burial.
Meanwhile, the Jalalpur Pirwala Sadder Police have booked a man for allegedly raping a girl at gunpoint in a mango orchard on Tuesday. The victim has been shifted to a hospital for medical examination, but the suspect remains at large.
In another case, two persons are alleged to have abducted a teenage girl (13) from her fields near her house early Monday morning in Chak 251/EB of Vehari district. Police registered a case against the two suspects, who have not been arrested yet.
Lastly, three individuals, including a woman, were allegedly tortured by six suspects over a land dispute in Chak 271/EB within the limits of the Gaggo Mandi Police station. The police have registered a case against Nadeem Jammu, Sarwar, Anwar and others, but no arrests have been made.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures and legal protections in rural areas to prevent such violent crimes.
