A heart-wrenching incident shook the peaceful neighborhood of Katha in the outskirts of Haripur’s Kot Najibullah area.
An innocent eight-year-old boy, Rehan Ansar, was brutally tortured and killed by his stepmother, Huma Bibi, who struck him repeatedly on the head with sticks. The tragic event occurred yesterday when the child’s body was recovered from their home and immediately shifted to a nearby trauma center, where doctors confirmed that the cause of death was severe physical torture.
The victim’s father, Ansar Hussain, told the police that he had married Huma Bibi some time ago after separating from his first wife. He stated that in his absence, the stepmother used to regularly subject the child to cruel abuse, which ultimately led to his death. Considering the gravity of the incident, the police promptly registered a case and arrested the accused.
Residents of the area revealed that this was not a sudden occurrence but a continuation of long-standing abuse by the stepmother. Police records also indicated multiple previous incidents of domestic violence at the same residence. Local people expressed serious concerns, saying that had timely action been taken earlier, the child’s life might have been saved.
Following the incident, the police initiated further investigation and began interrogating the accused. According to initial reports, the woman has not yet confessed to her crime. After the medical examination, the child’s body was handed over to his family, who buried him amid deep grief and sorrow.
This incident is another grim reminder of the growing menace of domestic violence in society, particularly involving step-relations. Psychologists stress the urgent need to strengthen family systems and raise social awareness to prevent such tragedies.
