Police have arrested a 15-year-old madrasa student in connection with the alleged sexual assault and killing of a five-year-old girl who went missing after accompanying her father for Friday prayers at a seminary in Tando Adam, Sanghar district. The victim, identified as Dua Ansari, had gone with her father to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Islamia Madinatul Uloom (old Tablighi Centre). According to her family, she went missing during the prayers.

The family and local residents searched for the child and announcements were also made, but she could not be found. Her body was later recovered near the classrooms of the madrasa, police and family members said. According to Sanghar police, the suspect was identified as 15-year-old Qasim, son of Ubaidullah, a resident of Rasheed Stop. Police claimed that the suspect confessed to sexually assaulting and killing the girl.

Senior police officials said the suspect allegedly put a piece of paper in the girl’s mouth to silence her cries, which, according to the police, resulted in her death. Police further alleged that the suspect left the body near the madrasa’s entrance and fled. Police also claimed that the suspect had confessed to sexually assaulting other children. A case has been registered against him and further investigation is under way.

The girl’s body was taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Tando Adam, for a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, the victim’s relatives and other protesters staged a demonstration outside the hospital, alleging that essential medical equipment and medicines required for the post-mortem examination were not available.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)