Police launch manhunt for cousin accused of luring, assaulting, killing 19-year-old Komal
The body of a 19-year-old woman, Komal, was discovered inside a house in Taiser Town, Surjani Town, on Thursday, in a case that has shocked the local community. Police suspect she was brutally bludgeoned to death by her former fiancé, who is also her cousin.
An FIR has been registered against Rashid Magsi under the murder section, following a complaint lodged by Komal’s mother, Rafiya, wife of late Ghulam Hussain.
Rafiya told authorities that Komal had been engaged to Rashid Magsi, her maternal cousin, a year ago, but he had moved to Dubai for work. Three months later, Komal eloped and married another man, Farhan. Due to domestic disputes, she reconnected with Rashid over the phone.
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Around 15 days ago, he brought her back from Farhan’s home to her family residence, and the couple allegedly reconciled. Komal had also filed a court case seeking separation from Farhan.
She added that Rashid had been staying at the family home for the past three days. On December 16, Rafiya left home with her husband and children, leaving Rashid and Komal behind. On the night of December 17, Rafiya returned around 9pm to find her daughter’s body lying on a mattress, with severe injuries to her head and face, blood on her clothes and walls, and the iron wrench nearby. Rashid was not present, and calls to his number went unanswered.
Family members later informed Rafiya that Rashid had called his mother in Larkana, confessing to the murder and warning them to leave the house before the police arrived. Rafiya contacted Madadgar 15, and Komal’s body was subsequently taken to the hospital.
However, police, in its statement, presented a slightly different account, while also claiming the body was found in a rented house instead of her family residence.
Police said they reached a house in Sector 50/E of Surjani Town after receiving information about the presence of a tortured body there. The body was shifted first to the local police station and later to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities, while investigators collected evidence from the crime scene.
According to police, the victim — Komal, daughter of Ghulam Hussain — had been engaged a few years ago to Rashid Magsi, son of Ghulam Qadir, who later went to Dubai for a job. During his stay abroad, Rashid reportedly stopped contacting Komal and her family.
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Subsequently, Komal was married to another man, Farhan. Police said Rashid returned to Karachi a few days ago and re-established contact with Komal, allegedly luring her with false promises of marriage. Under his influence, Komal approached the court seeking khula (dissolution of marriage) from her husband.
Police said Rashid had rented a house around 12 days earlier and persuaded Komal to meet him there. Three days ago, she allegedly left her husband’s home without informing anyone and began staying with Rashid at the rented house.
Police allege that Rashid raped Komal for three days before killing her on Wednesday night by repeatedly striking her on the head with a heavy iron rod, which was reportedly found near the body.
Police have confirmed that raids are underway to apprehend the accused, and an investigation is ongoing.
