On August 17, a girl, assisted by her love interest, reportedly poisoned over 13 family members in the village of Keti Pir Pagara, Sindh, according to report. The family fell ill after consuming food, leading to a sudden fainting spell. Following a thorough investigation, the police arrested the girl.
The incident unfolded amidst flood-like conditions in the area, where the family’s village was inundated after heavy monsoon rains. Initial suspicions arose when relatives took the victims to the hospital, believing they suffered from food poisoning.
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Tragically, 30-year-old Ghulam Asghar and 10-year-old Dildar died during treatment, with seven more deaths occurring the next day, bringing the total to 13.
Authorities were suspicious that the deaths were not due to food poisoning, especially after two family members, who consumed the same food, remained unharmed. Although relatives initially declined to file a police report, the police registered a case on their own.
During the investigation, autopsies revealed the presence of chemicals commonly found in sleeping pills and agricultural poisons in the deceased. This discovery prompted the police to broaden their inquiry. DSP Malhir Pattu mentioned that family members resisted questioning the girl, and the boy involved had fled after leaving his father in the hospital.
Investigators learned that the couple wished to marry, but their families opposed the union. The boy allegedly told his cousin, “I will bring you such a poison; feed it to your family, then the problem will be solved, and we can marry.” In his statement to the Khairpur police, the boy confirmed their love and described how he had brought poison to his cousin to mix into the food. Both suspects are currently in police custody for four days.
