Sexual assaults against women are on the rise in southern Punjab at an alarming rate as 11 new cases were reported during the past 24 hours, said 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

According to details, three of these cases were reported from Bahawalpur, two each in Multan and Bahawalnagar, and one each in Shujabad, Mailsi, Liaquatpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

In one of the horrific cases, a 19-year-old girl was raped at Chak No 7-B/C of Bahawalpur. However, police arrested the main accused identified as Rafique.

On the other hand, the locals captured a man who was later arrested by the officials from Mailsi City Police Station, as he tried to sexually assault a six-year-old girl who foiled the attempt by making noise.

The police have also launched efforts to capture the other accused who managed to escape from the scene.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old girl went through the physical and mental trauma in Liaquatpur where a youngster raped her at gunpoint in the Taranda Muhammad Panah area. Later, the police captured the accused after registering a case.

And in Shujabad, a teenaged girl was raped and murdered after she faced sexual assault for the second time from the same person.

According to details, the 12-year-old girl was found dead at her home after being strangled. Although the heirs were against in medical examination, police opted for post-mortem which showed that she had been killed after a sexual assault.

The officials from Saddar Police Station say they have registered a case and are conducting raids to capture the accused who has been identified as Saqlain.

It is said that the accused targeted the girl who was alone at her house and later fled the scene after killing her due to worsening condition.

In this connection, a maternal uncle of the victim girl said the accused had assaulted her in the past too but a local panchayat pardoned him despite the heinous nature of the crime.