Riots erupted in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Wednesday over police inaction after the body of an 8-year-old girl was found dumped in the trash after being raped multiple times, police said.
Two people were killed and an equal number injured as enraged protesters stormed the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kasur with sticks and stones.
The brutal murder of Zainab has incited anger among residents as it is the 12th such case to occur within a two kilometre radius in the city in the last year. Kasur made international headlines in 2015 when a gang of paedophiles running a child sex ring was busted, Dawn reported.
The gang allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted at least 280 children in the area, had blackmailed the families of the victims since 2009, and even sold video clips and images of the assault.
Zainab was last known to have attended a tuition centre near her house in the Road Kot area last Thursday on January 4, after which she was allegedly abducted.
Her family received footage showing her with a stranger near Peerowala Road, a video which has since gone viral on social media.
On Tuesday, a police constable deputed to trace the girl recovered her body from a trash heap.
Police said the girl seemed to have been killed four or five days ago.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the prompt arrest of the suspects and said he would personally supervise the progress of the case.
“Just presided over a meeting of police and administration officials. Made it absolutely clear to them that lip service would not work. I want the culprits involved in this heinous crime behind the bars. Those failing in their duties will be proceeded against. Very painful incident!”