SARGODHA (MNN); A preliminary postmortem report in the murder case of a seven-year-old girl in Sargodha has suggested the possibility of sexual assault before her death, while investigators await detailed forensic findings to determine the exact circumstances of the crime.
The child was found dead inside a shop on Monday, prompting a large-scale police investigation. Four suspects were subsequently taken into custody, with police claiming that one of the accused admitted involvement in the crime during interrogation.
District Police Officer (DPO) Sohaib Ashraf said doctors who conducted the autopsy informed investigators that the initial examination indicated possible sexual assault. However, he stressed that a final and comprehensive medical report is still pending and will provide conclusive evidence.
According to the preliminary findings, the victim suffered multiple injuries to the head and neck. Police said the report noted that the injuries appeared to have been inflicted with considerable force, while the apparent cause of death was excessive bleeding caused by wounds from a sharp-edged object.
The case took another turn on Wednesday when police reported that the principal suspect was killed during a reported Crime Control Department (CCD) operation after allegedly escaping from police custody. Authorities have yet to explain the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s escape.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by the victim’s father under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including provisions relating to murder, rape of a minor, attempted offences and abetment.
According to the FIR, the girl had gone to a nearby grocery store to purchase household items but failed to return home. Her family later began searching for her and eventually reached the shop.
The complainant alleged that when family members questioned the shop owner about the child’s whereabouts, they received no response. They subsequently searched the building and claimed to have encountered the prime suspect on an upper floor.
The FIR further states that the suspect allegedly fled after being confronted, while the child was found critically injured. The victim’s father accused the suspect of attempting to sexually assault his daughter before killing her and also alleged the involvement of three other individuals.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that forensic evidence, witness statements and the final postmortem report will be crucial in establishing the facts of the case.