K9 unit deployed in manhunt after 15-year-old girl brutally assaulted and robbed

POLICE have intensified their forensic and field operations in Kelantan, deploying a specialised K9 tracker dog unit to hunt down a dangerous assailant who allegedly robbed and brutally assaulted a 15-year-old girl while she was exercising with her younger sibling.

The teenage survivor is currently undergoing intensive medical treatment and psychological evaluation at the Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II in Kota Bharu, where medical professionals are monitoring her recovery from severe physical and emotional trauma.

The targeted assault occurred when the young victim was jogging alongside her 10-year-old brother near a dense clearing in Palekbang, before she was suddenly overpowered by the suspect and subsequently discovered injured by passing members of the public who raised the alarm.

Tumpat District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Khairi Shafie confirmed that while the victim has been listed in a stable medical condition, the profound psychological impact of the violent encounter remains a primary concern for the attending medical team.

The victim is in a stable condition but remains traumatised by the incident. She is also continuing to receive medical observation at the hospital.

In response to the public outrage surrounding the attack, district investigators have cordoned off the crime scene and are systematically analysing multiple physical leads to establish the identity and movements of the suspect.

Mohd Khairi said the full resources of the district police headquarters had been mobilised to secure the suspect's swift arrest, while appealing to residents in the Palekbang riverside area to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation.

"We are still tracking the suspect, and the K9 Unit is assisting in the search and efforts to locate him. We urge anyone with information that could help the investigation to contact the police immediately."

Legal authorities have classified the ongoing criminal investigation under two separate severe categories of the Malaysian Penal Code, registering the case under Section 376 for sexual assault and Section 394 for voluntarily causing hurt while committing a robbery.

The incident has triggered widespread calls from local residents for enhanced police patrols along popular recreational routes in the Tumpat district, as community leaders warn of growing anxieties regarding civilian safety in isolated suburban sectors. - June 19, 2026