Girl’s body was found in the bushes of Manora; Police claim CCTV footage helped identify the suspect.
Police on Thursday killed a man suspected of kidnapping and murdering a six-year-old girl in an alleged encounter in Karachi’s Jackson area.
The girl, identified as a resident of Baba Bhit Island, went missing a day ago. His body was found today in the bushes near Kachhi line in Manora.
According to police, investigators obtained CCTV footage from several locations during the investigation into the kidnapping and murder. The images allegedly showed the suspect wearing a red cap, a black and white shirt and blue jeans while carrying a sack over his shoulder on the pier.
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Police said the footage also showed him boarding a boat with the sack, which allegedly contained the girl’s body.
Jackson Station House Officer (SHO) Inayatullah Marwat said the suspect was identified through the CCTV footage, after which the police launched a search operation.
He said police later received information from intelligence sources that a man matching the suspect’s description was present near Mubarak Masjid Road along the seafront. A group of police officers arrived at the scene, where the suspect allegedly opened fire after seeing the officers.
Police returned fire, seriously injuring the suspect, who later died. A gun was recovered from his possession, according to the SHO.
He added that a team from the Crime Scene Unit was summoned to collect evidence before taking the body to Karachi Civil Hospital for legal formalities.
SHO Marwat said a separate case had been registered regarding the alleged encounter, while legal and forensic proceedings were underway.
The investigation into the kidnapping and murder of the girl continues in light of the security camera images and the medico-legal, forensic, technical and other evidence available, he added.
Read also: The brutal rape and murder of a girl shakes the city
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar praised the Keamari police for advancing the investigation and killing the absconding suspect in the alleged police encounter.
According to a spokesperson, the Home Minister praised Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police Singhar Ali Malik and his team for their efforts.
Lanjar said crimes against innocent children were highly condemnable and ordered authorities to use all available resources to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law.
He also directed investigators to complete the investigation on merit by examining all available evidence, including CCTV footage, medico-legal findings, forensic evidence, technical data and other material.
The Interior Minister said the possible involvement and role of the deceased suspect in the kidnapping and murder case should be determined based on concrete evidence.
This is not the first incident involving the murder of a minor in Karachi. Last month, a three-year-old girl was found dead in a sack near her house in Quaidabad area of Malir district after she was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered, in an incident that shocked the entire locality.
Earlier this month, the body of a six-year-old boy was found in the Old City area of Karachi, a day after he went missing outside his home. Police said the boy had also been sexually assaulted and killed.
Police later arrested the boy’s neighbor, who remained in police custody for five days after investigators said he had confessed to the crime.
