A ten-year-old girl employed as maid at the house of an influential man in Sindh’s Ranipur was raped before she died, a medical examination has revealed, according to the police.
Fatima died on August 13 and was buried quietly but her death sparked an outcry after multiple videos surfaced on social media indicating she was probably tortured and raped.
Following social media reaction and media reporting, her body was exhumed on Saturday on court orders and five-member board conducted autopsy. She was laid to rest again after a few hours.
Police on Sunday said the medical board has handed down its initial report confirming that the child was raped.
The initial report has confirmed she was subjected to rape and the final report will be submitted shortly, said Khairpur SPP Mir Rohal Khan Khoso.
He said the DNA sample of the accused matched with the victim’s DNA sample that the medical board obtained on Saturday.
Fatima alias Saya worked at the house of Asad Shah, who is the son in law of an influential pir.
Shah was arrested on August 16 after police registered an FIR. He was brought to a public sector hospital on Sunday morning where doctors collected his DNA samples.
Sukkur DIG Javed Jiskani also told reporters Sunday morning that the medical board had expressed suspicions Fatima had been raped.
He said the board found marks on the body of Fatima indicating she was tortured.
All other children working in the haveli (mansion) of Asad Shah will be rescued and moved to their homes, he said.
Jiskani said authorities will collect DNA samples of all the people living in the haveli.
After Fatima’s murder at least two girls have escaped from the mansion and said that they were subjected to abuse.
A copy of the final medical report, seen by Aaj News, said that that findings suggest Fatima’s body was penetrated confirming rape. The report said samples have been sent to a laboratory for analysis.
The report also confirmed that there were multiple bruises on the body. The report also showed that there were several wounds so deep that Fatima’s skull cap had reddish areas consistent with the wounds on her head. A totla of eight spots on Fatima’s body had bruises and all the bruises were antemortem i.e received before death.
However, it added that no bones in her body were broken contrary to a previoud claim by the mother.
A total of seven samples have been sent for chemical analysis including the soil above and below the burial shroud, spleen and whole left kidney.
Another six samples have been sent for DNA analysis including nails as well as anal, vaginal and buccal swabs.
A protest demonstration was held in Ranipur by political, civil rights activists who demanded punishment for people behind Fatima’s ’murder. The demonstration was led by Dr Nazir Khokhar.
The protestors said that the accused Asad Shah is being treated as a guest in police custody.
They said the accused is influential and threatening the family members of Fatima who was brutally murdered.
The accused should be punished immediately and justice should be served, they said adding that the protests will continue until the accused is brought to justice.
