Key Suspect Arrested in Assault on Polio Worker

Two suspects remain on the run, police intensify search
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Sep 18, 2024 12:25 PM CDT
Key Suspect Arrested in Assault on Polio Worker
A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.   (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)

Pakistani police have apprehended a primary suspect in the gang rape of a female polio worker during a vaccination campaign, officials announced Wednesday. The incident occurred last Thursday in Jacobabad, Sindh province, and two additional suspects remain at large. Police official Mohammad Saifal revealed that Ahmad Jakhrani has been identified as the arrested suspect. According to Saifal, the woman was assaulted after entering a house in Jacobabad to administer polio drops. A local police chief was dismissed for failing to provide sufficient security to the polio worker. This attack, which has deeply shocked the nation, prompted the Sindh provincial government to pledge a thorough investigation.

The husband of the victim was also detained for expelling her from their home and threatening her life for supposedly "tarnishing" the family's honor. Honor-related violence remains prevalent in Pakistan, with women often punished for bringing perceived shame. Police have placed officers at a relative's residence where the woman is now staying for her safety. The assault underscores ongoing challenges faced by polio vaccination teams in Pakistan, where 17 new polio cases have been reported this year, complicating eradication efforts. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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