The brutal death of Maryam Bibi, a woman subjected to torture by policeman Mir Hasan on a moving train, has sent shockwaves across Pakistan. Maryam’s lifeless body was discovered near Chani Goth Railway Station on Monday, April 15, sparking outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
In the disturbing footage, policeman Mir Hasan is seen viciously assaulting Maryam, grabbing her by the hair and striking her repeatedly as other passengers remained passive bystanders. Subsequently, Hasan molested Maryam before callously throwing her off the moving train.
According to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Railways Abdullah Sheikh, the harrowing incident occurred on April 7 aboard the Karachi to Lala Musa-bound Millat Express. Maryam, a resident of Jaranwala, Faisalabad, worked in a salon and was on her way home to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.
Her grieving brother, Afzal, revealed that they initially believed Maryam’s death to be a tragic accident when Bahawalpur police informed them of her demise, attributing it to a fall from the train. However, the emergence of the viral video exposed the truth behind Maryam’s untimely death and the heinous violence inflicted upon her.
Possibility of sexual assault
Afzal accused Mir Hasan of torturing, molesting and murdering his sister, alleging that her body was callously disposed of on a railway track. At first no action was taken by the authorities but after the public outcry, the accused was arrested, only to be released on bail within a short span of time.
Adding to the anguish, Maryam’s nephew, who was traveling with her, recounted the horrifying ordeal, stating that Hasan initiated the assault after objecting to Maryam’s recitation. The nephew and others were subsequently abandoned at the next station, leaving Maryam at the mercy of her assailant. Her nephew’s statement and her partially-naked found body along with past records of brutality of Pakistan police have raised apprehensions of her being sexualy assaulted before she was thrown out if the train.