Shop Sealed After Public Vandalism
Authorities in Sargodha sealed a grocery store on Sunday linked to the alleged rape and murder of seven-year-old Muntaha Zahra, after repeated attacks by angry residents left the premises extensively damaged. The shop, where the crime reportedly occurred, had its entrance walled up with bricks following multiple incidents of stone-pelting and arson attempts.
Details of the Crime
Muntaha Zahra, a resident of block 8, went missing after leaving her home to buy sugar from the nearby grocery store. Her family filed a complaint with police, who launched a search operation and reviewed CCTV footage. The footage showed Muntaha entering the store but not exiting. Police searched the building and found her body. Preliminary investigations suggest a store employee allegedly attempted to sexually assault the child and killed her when she resisted and raised an alarm.
Arrests and Prime Suspect Killed
Police arrested four suspects, who were remanded into custody for six days by Senior Civil Judge Chaudhry Imran Ali for physical interrogation. However, on Wednesday, the Crime Control Department (CCD) reported that the prime suspect was killed in an encounter in Sargodha. The case was later transferred to the CCD for further investigation.
Public Anger and Vandalism
The shop remained a focus of public anger for days. Protesters gathered outside repeatedly, pelting it with stones and attempting to set it on fire. The attacks shattered windows and damaged the main shutter, prompting the administration to wall up the entrance. Police removed the shop's contents and installed barbed wire, with two officers deployed during the day. However, residents noted that officers leave after their shifts at night, allowing some people to return and vandalize the property.
Community Reaction
Resident Muhammad Ali called the crime "unbearable," stating, "The whole city is grieving. All the public wants is for the accused to receive the harshest punishment under the law so that no one dares commit such a crime again." Another resident, Ayesha Bibi, said the grief of Muntaha's parents had become "the grief of the entire city," urging swift justice to ease public anxiety.
Police Response
Sargodha District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Sohaib Ashraf confirmed that the victim's family had no role in the attacks on the shop. He said police were investigating all aspects of the case and would take legal action against those responsible for the vandalism. "No one can be allowed to take the law into their own hands," he stated.
Background and Investigation
The victim's father filed a complaint at the City Police Station, naming four individuals, including the prime suspect. According to the first information report, the main suspect had threatened the father during a prior dispute, warning of consequences he would remember for life. Police are investigating whether those threats were linked to the crime. The case continues as authorities seek to bring all perpetrators to justice.
