A high-level investigation team formed by Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho has collected DNA samples from over a dozen suspects in the rape and murder of three-year-old Kulsoom Mohammed Qasim in Karachi’s Quaidabad area. The samples have been sent to a laboratory at the University of Karachi (KU) for analysis, with results expected soon.
Details of the Incident
Kulsoom left her home in Muslimabad Colony on Tuesday afternoon to play outside. Her body was discovered later that evening stuffed in a gunny bag at the main gate of the street leading to her home, near Mustafa Masjid. Doctors confirmed she was subjected to “violent rape” before being murdered.
Malir SSP (Investigation) Majida Perveen Halepota stated on Thursday that police had taken DNA samples from several suspects and were awaiting lab reports for possible matches. A member of the investigation team revealed that a team of doctors, led by police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, collected DNA samples from 12 suspects from the same neighbourhood, including some relatives of the victim.
Focus on Three Suspects
Based on reports from the Special Branch and local informants, investigators are focusing on three possible suspects who are close relatives of the victim. The officer said they plan to detain these suspects for interrogation, but a breakthrough depends on a DNA match from the KU laboratory. The team is “certain” that the suspect(s) belong to the same neighbourhood as the victim.
A case has been registered by Quaidabad police on the complaint of the girl’s father against unknown persons under Sections 302 (premediated murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 376 (punishment for rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 363 (kidnapping) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Police Surgeon's Reaction
Dr. Summaiya Syed described the murder as “one of the most horrific cases” she had seen in her career. “All rape-murder cases of children are horrific, but some are more [terrible] than the others. This was one of them. Really disturbing,” she said.
IGP Forms Committee for Transparent Inquiry
IGP Odho formed a committee led by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Karachi’s East Zone to conduct a transparent inquiry. “People involved in this horrific incident do not deserve any leniency and they will be taken to task,” he said.
Earlier this week, Sargodha police arrested four suspects in the murder of a seven-year-old girl, whose body was found in a shop. The prime suspect was accused of attempting to rape the girl before killing her. However, a day later, the main suspect was killed in an alleged encounter with a Crime Control Department (CCD) team after escaping police custody.
