In a heartbreaking incident in Qila Sahib Singh, Punjab, Pakistan, three children were fatally poisoned and five others severely sickened after consuming contaminated sweetmeat. This occurred in a predominantly Christian community largely consisting of sanitary workers, just before Easter celebrations.

According to the Christian Post, A tragic event unfolded in Punjab when poisoned sweets, meant for stray dogs, claimed the lives of three children and hospitalized five others.

The poisoning happened on the evening of April 14, in the suburban locale of Qila Sahib Singh within the Hafizabad district. According to reports, the sweets accidentally consumed by the children had been poisoned deliberately as part of a local campaign to control the stray dog population.

The victims included a 10-year-old Danish, a 7-year-old David Shehzad, and an 8-year-old Samson, who lost their lives as a result of the poisoning. They were initially rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hafizabad due to the severity of their symptoms.

Critical Responses and Initial Medical Care

Shortly after the incident, an FIR was registered by Shahbaz Masih, who reported that the culprits had fled the scene. This legal complaint included serious charges like murder under section 302 and administration of poisonous substances under section 337-J of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Hafizabad Municipal Corporation had been engaged in an active campaign against stray dogs using poison; however, this campaign was implicated in the accident due to severe negligence that led to the tragedy.

Five other children affected by the incident included 10-year-old Aatishna, 8-year-old Harry, 10-year-old Kailash, 7-year-old Shehroz, and 10-year-old Shalom. They were in critical condition and, therefore, were transferred to the Children’s Hospital in Lahore for specialized care.

Detailed Accounts of the Unfolding Tragedy

The FIR quotes, “All eight children fell seriously ill after consuming the poisonous sweets and were immediately taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hafizabad.” A statement from the same hospital informed, “Two children were received dead, one died during treatment, and the other five were managed accordingly and referred later to the Children’s Hospital in Lahore by Rescue 1122.”

Christian lawmaker Ejaz Alam Augustine shared insights into the circumstances leading to the poisoning. He said that the children found the laced sweetmeat in a clear bag hanging from a parked rickshaw. One of the boys opened the bag, inviting the others to try the sweets, leading to an immediate and severe health crisis among the group.

Lawmaker’s Call for Justice and Reforms

Augustine further explained, “Their lungs have been severely damaged by the poison, but the doctors are trying their best to save the innocent lives. ... May God bless them with life and a complete recovery from the effects of the poison.” He emphasized the need for legal action against those responsible due to the negligent handling of the poisonous material.

“This tragic incident was caused by sheer negligence for which the persons responsible must be punished as per the law,” Augustine lamented. He also accused the Hafizabad Municipal Corporation of attempting to conceal the identity of the supervisor who had overseen the distribution of the toxic sweets.

Augustine’s concluding remark was a call for thorough investigation and reform: “This incident must be investigated thoroughly to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.” No suspects have been identified as the investigation continues, with local police exploring all leads related to the horrific incident.