Police have arrested three men for allegedly gang-raping a woman in the Bakot area of Abbottabad district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The arrest was made after the incident drew widespread attention on social media platforms.
According to a police spokesperson, the incident occurred on Wednesday. A woman from Rawalpindi was reportedly brought to a house in Bakot by one of the suspects, where three men sexually assaulted her.
District Police Officer (DPO) Umar Tufail took immediate notice of the case after it was widely shared on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. He directed the local police to take swift action, resulting in the arrest of the accused.
“The suspects were taken into custody following public outrage on social media,” said Abbottabad police spokesperson Azam Mir Afzal.
The First Information Report (FIR) states that one of the suspects drove the woman from Rawalpindi to his friend’s house in Bakot. Once inside, he and two other men allegedly raped her one after the other. The house belonged to one of the suspects, who has reportedly confessed to the crime and identified his accomplices.
Bakot Station House Officer (SHO) Arshad Khan visited the village where the crime took place. He reported that residents were angered by the incident and demanded immediate justice.
“The local community expressed strong emotions over the matter and wanted strict action,” said SHO Arshad Khan.
The suspects are currently in police custody. Further investigation is underway, and evidence is being collected to ensure the case proceeds in court.
DPO Tufail stated that the police are treating the case with urgency and seriousness. He added that legal proceedings will be carried out in accordance with the law, and the suspects will be presented before the relevant court.
Authorities have requested the public to refrain from spreading unverified or sensitive information online. They also urged media platforms and social media users to protect the identity and dignity of the victim.
The case continues to receive attention both locally and nationally, with calls for justice from civil society and human rights activists.
