Tando Adam: 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 while accompanying her father for Friday prayers at a seminary in Tando Adam, Sanghar district.
The victim, identified as Dua Ansari, had accompanied her father to Jamia Islamia Madinatul Uloom, also known as the old Tablighi Centre. According to her family, the child disappeared during Friday prayers.
Family members and local residents launched a search and announcements were made in an effort to locate her. Her body was subsequently recovered near classrooms at the madrasa, according to police and relatives.
Sanghar police identified the arrested suspect as 15-year-old Qasim, son of Ubaidullah and a resident of Rasheed Stop. Police claimed that the teenager confessed to sexually assaulting and killing the child.
Senior police officials alleged that the suspect placed a piece of paper in the girl’s mouth in an attempt to silence her cries, resulting in her death. Police further alleged that he left her body near the entrance of the madrasa before fleeing.
Police also claimed that the suspect confessed to sexually assaulting other children. A case has been registered against him and further investigation is under way.
Dua’s body was taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Tando Adam for a post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, the victim’s relatives and other residents staged a protest outside the hospital, alleging that essential medical equipment and medicines required to conduct the post-mortem examination were unavailable.