One killed in Karachi protest over minor's rape, killing

One person was killed and several injured during a protest here to demand justice for a minor girl, who was raped and murdered, turned violent with demonstrators pelting stones at the police and nearby vehicles.

The girl, who had gone missing on Sunday, was found dead in the bushes in the city's Manghopir area on Monday night. She was identified on Tuesday as a resident of Baloch Goth, Orangi Town. The post-mortem report revealed that she had been raped before being strangled, according to a Geo News report.

Relatives and locals placed the body of the girl on Orangi Road demanding that the authorities take notice of the incident and arrest those behind the heinous crime. The protest later turned violent when police personnel attacked the demonstrators after being pelted with stones.

Police resorted to a baton charge and aerial firing. As a result, two protesters were severely injured and taken to a hospital where one, identified as Abdul Rehman, succumbed to his wounds. The demonstration brought traffic to a halt in the area.

Ten police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police and two station house officers were also injured in the clashes, Dawn online reported.

A police official said the minor girl's body bore marks of torture and was sent for autopsy. Two out of three suspects mentioned by the girl's parents were arrested.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Khurram Sher Zaman claimed that the deceased protester was a "party worker who was killed as a result of police's straight firing on peaceful protesters".

--IANS

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