Four arrested in Mansehra in student’s molestation case

MANSEHRA: Police have sealed the madrassa in Thakra Parhana area and arrested four co-accused in the sexual abuse of a student on Saturday.

"A special team has been raiding possible hideouts to arrest the main culprit Qari Shamsuddin," said Mazharul Haq Kakakhel, the deputy inspector general of police Hazara range, while speaking to the victim's family here on Saturday.

The DIG, who also visited Ayub Medical Complex Hospital to inquire after the health of the victim student, said: "We can't allow anybody to commit such heinous crime and all those involved in sexually assaulting the 10-year-old student would strictly be taken to justice and prime suspects in this case would be arrested soon." "We have sealed the unregistered madrassa where this incident took place and returned back around 140 students to their homes," he added.

Ali Gohar, the uncle of the victim student, who lodged FIR with Pulrah police, told reporters that medical report of the victim had confirmed that he had been sexually assaulted by owner of the madrassa. "We want an immediate arrest of the prime suspect in the case as condition of my nephew is still critical," he added.

The police party also raided the madrassa for the arrest of the prime suspect but he had managed to flee. He said that four co-accused including owner of the seminary, Maulana Bashiruddin, were arrested from different places following the registration of the FIR. He said that preliminary investigating had revealed that prime accused, Shamsuddin, was also a government schoolteacher and receiving salary without performing his duty since long.

Chief Minister Mehmood Khan has also ordered DIG Mazharul Haq Kakakhail for immediate arrest of the accused and to report to him within 24 hours. Meanwhile, the students protested and demanded arrest of the madrassa teacher, who allegedly sexually assaulted a student in Parhana area.

"Our society can't tolerate everyday increasing heinous crimes against minor children and government should immediately arrest the prime accused and stone him to death publicly," Mohammad Shoaib, a student leader, told the protesters outside the Mansehra Press Club after marching through various roads here.

"If government doesn't take our demand of the accused's public hanging seriously, we would spread our agitation to other areas of the country," said Shoaib.