LAHORE: The investigative police units in Punjab have recently concluded investigations on 40 severe crime cases and have submitted relevant challans to courts. These cases were specifically selected for investigation by Punjab police’s monitoring teams based on the magnitude of the crimes and the involvement of hardened criminals. Dr Usman Anwar, inspector general of police (IGP). stated that the monitoring teams were given a special task to investigate cases of murder, dacoity, robbery, rape, and kidnapping for ransom, and bring them to a logical conclusion using modern forensic science technology in combination with traditional investigative skills.
He also ordered digital monitoring of the investigation of the heinous crime cases and getting trial completed at the earliest in liaison with the prosecution department. Of the cases, one was the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Bahawalngar, an acid attack on a girl in Vehari; and the murder of a security supervisor by four robbers during a dacoity in Dera Ghazi Khan. The police arrested suspects in these cases and submitted challans to the courts. Likewise, the challans of eight cases of blind murder, five cases of dacoity cum rape, four cases of double murder, 11 cases of gang rape, seven cases of acid attacks on women, a kidnapping, and four cases of robbery and dacoity have been submitted in court.
The IGP said that the police arrested 97 hardened criminals in these cases, and recovered from them gold ornaments, vehicles, and illegal weapons. He directed the supervisory officers of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi to identify and resolve more such cases. He directed the additional IG of investigation to ensure the monitoring of the investigation of the most heinous crime cases in the investigation headquarters for the timely completion of the investigations before submitting challans to courts.
In addition, Dr Anwar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with six public and private institutions for the protection and assistance of women victims of domestic violence, exploitation, rape, and other gender-based crimes. Heads and senior officers of the Women’s Protection Authority, Social Welfare Department, Akhhuat, Dastak Charitable Trust, Bali Memorial Trust, CBL and US Apparel signed MoU. The police and the institutions will work together to provide assistance, support and guidance to women in distress. Dr Anwar said that the MoU would help solve the problems of women, including housewives, domestic workers, working women and students.
In this regard, he said, special instructions have been issued to protection centers in districts to help and protect women victims of gender crimes. The centres will not only provide immediate legal help and justice to women victims of crimes but also facilitate their access to relevant public and private institutions in order to provide them with social security, legal assistance, and dignified employment and livelihood. The IGP said the cooperation of organisations with the police is the need of the hour because police teams will provide legal assistance and protection to women while other organizations will play their role in social security.
(Daily Dawn)
****************