Police register case after alleged gang rape of woman in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi police have registered a case after a 19-year-old woman, a mother of two, was allegedly gang-raped by several men inside a passenger van.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the woman was travelling from Chak Beli Mor to Rawat Bazaar to purchase clothes when the incident occurred.

The FIR said that after she boarded the van, the driver, identified as Sultan, diverted the vehicle back towards Chak Beli. The conductor reportedly restrained the woman when she raised an alarm.

Another suspect, also identified as Sultan, was later picked up near Chak Beli Mor, after which the suspects allegedly took the van to a house near the Bagh Shaikhan area and attempted to force the woman inside.

When she resisted and raised an alarm again, another suspect, Aaqil, allegedly covered her mouth with a cloth.

The suspects then drove around the Bagh Shaikhan village area, during which the woman was repeatedly assaulted inside the vehicle, according to the FIR.

Police said the suspects later dropped the woman back at Chak Beli Mor at around 4:30pm.

The FIR further stated that the suspects recorded videos and took photographs of the victim during the assault.

Days after the incident, one of the suspects allegedly called the woman and threatened to leak the footage on social media if she reported the matter to the police.

The victim informed her husband about the incident, but he allegedly advised her to remain silent, police said.

Police said the incident occurred before the month of Ramadan, adding that local residents had initially tried to resolve the matter through a jirga, delaying the reporting of the case to police.

Police said a medical examination of the victim was under way and that the investigation would proceed based on evidence collected.