Police detain rape victims’ spouses

SAR-I-PUL (PAN allegedly raped a month back in northern Sar-i-Pul province, the women’s affairs director alleged on Tuesday.

Nasima Arzo told Pajhwok Afghan News the two women were sexually assaulted by two young men — aged 20 and 21 years — in Sancharak district. The alleged rapists are still at large.

Under pressure from tribal elders, the families kept the incident secret but complained to the governor two days ago, said Arzo, who lashed out at the elders and police for protecting the rapists.

She said police had arrested spouses of the victims instead of the offenders, who belonged to the Aab-i-Kalan village. The young men had entered a house at night and raped the wives of two cousins, who lived together.

The men wanted to rape two young girls in the house, but the women rescued them by asking the girls to flee. After the girls had fled, the men raped the women.

Arzo asked the authorities to release the detainees forthwith and put the real rapists behind bars.

One of the victims told Pajhwok Afghan News their husbands used to climb mountains in search of firewood and return home in the morning. She said the men entered their house around 1am and raped them.

Police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Rauf Taj said the incident was being thoroughly investigated and one of the rapists had been detained and a hunt for the second was underway.

He acknowledged husbands of the two women had been arrested illegally and would be released soon.

ma/mud

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