SARGODHA: The main suspect in the murder of seven-year-old Muntaha was killed in an alleged encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD), according to official sources.
CCD sources said suspect Arsalan was being taken to recover the murder weapon when his accomplices allegedly opened fire on a CCD team near Jhal Chakian 3 Pulli in an attempt to free him. The CCD personnel returned fire, during which Arsalan was killed. Police later deployed additional teams to track down and arrest the suspects who escaped from the scene.
The case had shocked residents of Sargodha after Muntaha, a seven-year-old girl, was found murdered near her home in Karkhana Bazaar Chowk.
According to police, Muntaha left her house at around 11:15am to buy an item from a grocery store located a few steps away from her home. When she did not return, her family searched for her and contacted police at around 12:45pm to report her disappearance.
Speaking about the investigation, District Police Officer (DPO) Sohaib Ashraf said police immediately reviewed CCTV footage from the only camera installed in the street. The footage showed the girl entering the nearby shop but did not show her leaving it.
The DPO said investigators initially noticed footage that appeared to show a girl of similar age leaving the area with a woman. However, the video quality was unclear, leading police to continue searching the shop and the building thoroughly.
Police searched the ground floor and then moved to the upper levels of the building. According to the DPO, officers discovered a few drops of blood on the second floor. Further inspection of a washroom revealed additional bloodstains, while a knife and a Rs50 note were found nearby. Investigators believe the money may have been the amount Muntaha had brought from home to make a purchase.
The DPO said officers learned that access to the rooftop was controlled by a key kept by a shop employee who was not present at the time. Police later contacted the employee and brought him back to the premises before conducting a rooftop search.
According to police, officers found Muntaha’s body concealed behind sacks and discarded material in a small covered section on the rooftop. Investigators also claimed that traces of blood were found on the footwear of the shop employee, who was subsequently arrested.
The girl’s father, Muhammad Naeem, nominated four suspects in the case. The remaining three suspects are currently in CCD custody on six-day physical remand.
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Discussing the preliminary investigation, DPO Sohaib Ashraf said the main suspect allegedly told investigators that he lured the child upstairs by telling her the item she wanted was located there. The suspect allegedly admitted attempting to sexually assault the girl and then killing her after she raised an alarm.
According to police, the suspect planned to remove the body from the premises later that night and abandon it elsewhere.
The case was registered at City Police Station under murder and other relevant sections of the law on the complaint of the victim’s father. Following the registration of the case, police widened the investigation and detained several suspects for questioning.
The DPO said a post-mortem examination had been completed and DNA samples had been sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency for analysis. According to police, preliminary medical findings indicated injuries consistent with sexual assault, although final conclusions will depend on forensic and DNA reports.
Police later transferred the case to the CCD for further investigation. Authorities have said all those found responsible will be brought to justice under the law.
(Monitoring Desk)
