Autopsy confirms rape, murder of minor girl

SUKKUR: The initial postmortem report of an eight-year-old girl, who was brutally murdered and later recovered packed in a gunny bag from Jhalori in Mirpurkhas, has revealed horrific and disturbing details.

The report confirmed that the child was raped multiple times, subjected to severe physical abuse and starvation, and ultimately died due to strangulation.

The tragic sequence of events began five days prior, when the victim left her home in Jhalori around 11am during a school break but never reached the school. According to her distraught father, the family initiated a search and subsequently contacted police, leading to the registration of a kidnapping case at the Taluka police station.

The investigation took a grim turn on Monday when staff at the Dabka distributory branch noticed a floating bag. Police reached the spot it was tragically confirmed that the body belonged to the missing girl. Inspector Inayat Zardari confirmed that the initial medical report indicated extensive torture and rape.

The detailed medical findings revealed the child’s lower body was severely injured, indicative of repeated sexual assault. Her clothing was torn, her stomach was completely empty, suggesting prolonged deprivation of food, and several parts of her body were already undergoing decomposition. Her mouth was found partially open, her tongue protruding, and her eyes were closed and swollen—all signs consistent with death by strangulation.

Following this brutal incident, which has ignited widespread outrage and profound grief across the region, the Mirpurkhas SSP constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT). CIA and police have raided various locations in Jhalori city and detained nine suspects for questioning, shifting them to an undisclosed location. Police sources suggest that the majority of those detained are reportedly drug addicts.

The incident has drawn strong reactions from political figures and civil society. Sindh Home Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah contacted the SSP, expressing deep sorrow and instructing for a detailed briefing.

PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh strongly condemned the incident and demanded prompt action.

The Women Action Forum (WAF) Hyderabad also condemned the incident, arguing that the alleged irresponsible behavior of the police is encouraging criminals and increasing incidents of violence against women and children.