Bahawalpur: Four accused in minor girl's rape-murder case killed in police encounter

Four men accused in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl were killed in an alleged police encounter in Bahawalpur, according to local media reports.

Police said the suspects, including two of the victim’s maternal uncles, were being escorted to the crime scene to recover the murder weapon when unidentified attackers opened fire on the police convoy.

The assailants, reportedly accomplices of the suspects, aimed to free them from custody.

In the ensuing crossfire, all four suspects were fatally shot—reportedly by gunfire from their own associates. The attackers escaped under the cover of darkness, officials said.

Read: LHC rules biological father responsible for supporting children born out of wedlock or rape

The case involves the brutal gang-rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in the Thana Saddar area of Bahawalpur. Investigations led to the arrest of four suspects following DNA tests. Police said the accused had confessed to the crime during interrogation.

Punjab Police reiterated their zero-tolerance policy for crimes against women and children, aligning with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Never Again” initiative and directives issued by Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar.