Two held as Sarim’s initial autopsy report suggests rape

Police on Monday detained two people in connection with the recovery of kidnapped minor Sarim’s body from an underground water tank of a residential apartment building in North Karachi on Saturday.

Officials said the Anti-Violent Crime Cell conducted another search operation in the building late on Sunday night that continued until 6am, with two suspects being detained for questioning.

The people detained for questioning had the key to the locked flat. Sniffer dogs were also used during the operation, during which the locked flats of the residential project were searched again.

A sheet was also recovered from a locked flat, and it will be sent for a forensic analysis. Other samples have also been collected from the locked flat. Police are waiting for the final post-mortem examination report, following which the direction of the investigation will be clear. Officials said DNA samples of Sarim and the detained suspects would also be sent for a forensic analysis.

The initial autopsy report suggests the seven-year-old boy was raped. Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said the child’s body bore various injury marks, adding that according to the initial medical report, he was raped.

SSP Anil Haider said Sarim’s neck bone was found broken, suggesting he was strangled to death. He said the boy was killed five days ago, then his body was dumped. A close relative of the child has also been taken into custody on suspicion, and his DNA test is being conducted, he added.

Meanwhile, Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho held a meeting about missing and abducted children at the Karachi Police Office. He reviewed the progress of the current cases, and ordered taking strict measures to ensure the recovery of the children. Odho directed all the officers to expedite the investigations of the cases, as well as ensure all possible cooperation with the affected parents and families.