By Urdu Report Editorial Team
The body of four-year-old Noor Fatima, who went missing from Jalalpur Jattan in Gujrat district on Thursday, has been recovered from a rainwater drain after a two-day search.
Police have arrested the girl’s 16-year-old cousin in connection with the alleged rape and murder. He has been handed over to the Crime Control Department (CCD) for investigation.
According to the first information report (FIR), Noor Fatima was watching a mobile phone at home when her cousin took her outside. Her father had reported her missing on August 27.
After the girl’s body was recovered, rape and murder charges were added to the case. Police said her post-mortem examination is being conducted.
Body recovered after two-day search
Gujrat police spokesperson Raheel Arif told media that the girl’s body was recovered from a rainwater drain about five kilometres from the location of the incident.
Police said the body was handed over to the family after the recovery. The post-mortem is expected to provide further information about the circumstances of her death.
Local police allege that the suspect sexually assaulted the girl and later placed her, while unconscious, in a sack before putting her into the drain. Rescue officials began searching the drain after the suspect allegedly identified the location.
Police said they have obtained the suspect’s DNA sample. The 16-year-old suspect is the complainant’s nephew.
What does the FIR say?
The FIR filed on August 27 states that Noor Fatima was at home watching a mobile phone when her mother called her father at around 12:30pm.
According to the FIR, the mother told him that the girl had gone outside with the suspect and had not returned after a considerable period.
The family began searching for the child. A person later told them that he had seen the suspect taking Noor Fatima with him.
The girl’s father subsequently expressed suspicion that his nephew had abducted his daughter and requested legal action.
Father says there was no family dispute
Noor Fatima’s father, Zeeshan Haider, told media that police contacted him after the kidnapping case was registered and informed him that the suspect had been arrested.
Haider, who works as a tailor, said the suspect was his brother’s son and that the families regularly visited each other.
He said there had been no dispute between him and his brother or nephews.
The father also said police were currently proceeding with the investigation mainly on the basis of the arrested suspect’s statement.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspect was taken into custody on Friday and was being questioned. Police planned to produce him before a court on Sunday to seek his remand.
