Crime
Police arrest 35 suspects in connection with female assault case at Minar-e-Pakistan
Lahore: Police has arrested 35 suspects after a female TikToker along with her companions was harassed and assaulted by a mob in Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park on Independence Day.
According to details, teams of police arrested 35 people from the areas of Badami Bagh, Lari Adda and Shafiqabad, while search operation is underway to arrest further suspects.
Initial reports have revealed that those arrested are 18 to 30 years of age and they will be matched with the videos that surfaced on internet.
All arrested have been shifted to Lari Adda Police Station where investigation process in underway.
On Wednesday, Punjab government spokesman Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said that culprits of Minar-e-Pakistan incident are being identified through video footage.
In a statement Fayyaz Chohan said that the incident of assault on a woman in Greater Iqbal Park is a shameful act which has brought shame to the society.
“The accused involved in the video are being identified and will be brought to justice.”
Lahore police on Tuesday booked hundreds of unidentified people in a case after the horrific video surfaced on internet. The FIR was registered under sections 354 A (assault or use of criminal force against woman and stripping her of her clothes), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to commit the theft), 147 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The complainant stated in her application that she, along with six companions, were filming a video near Minar-e-Pakistan on the Independence Day on August 14 when around 300 to 400 people attacked them.
She said she and her fellows made effort to escape from the crowd. Observing the situation, the park's security guard opened the gate to the enclosure around Minar-e-Pakistan, the FIR quotes her as saying.
The victim further told the police that the men groped her, tore off her clothes, beat her, and tossed her in the air. The attackers also robbed her of Rs15,000, snatched her mobile phone and took off her gold ring and studs.
Many of witnesses instead of rescuing the victim acted as silent spectators and filmed the incident by using their cell phones. Only one person came to the woman's rescue and helped her get out of the park.