Excelsior Correspondent
MANDI, Sept 16: A teacher, village level worker (VLW) and a shopkeeper hailing from Manjakote of Rajouri, were arrested by Mandi police on the charge of attempt to kidnap a 15-year old girl from Loran area while people conducted `gherao’ of Mandi Thana and held strong protest demonstration amidst rumours that accused were involved in lifting children and were let off by police.
Reports said the trouble started when three car-borne men tried to kidnap a girl near Batalkote Ziarat on Loran road this afternoon. The girl raised alarm and the villagers working in the nearby fields ran towards them. They pelted stones on car and raised alarm. The car-borne men sensing trouble left the girl and managed to escape towards Mandi. The villagers passed on message on phone at next village to stop the Alto car without number and capture the men traveling. The car did not stop and injured one of the villagers and sped away towards Mandi. The message was also flashed to Mandi police but they were again trapped by villagers ahead of Mandi. The police party along with SHO also reached and took him to Police Station.
After some time a number of people gathered at the Police Station amidst the rumours that accused were involved in lifting children during nights and they were from the same group which had created terror in Surankot-Mendhar area. It was also alleged that the accused have been let off by police. The people conducted `ghearo’ of Thana and held protest demonstration against police and SHO Ashiq Hussain. Later, DySP headquarters Poonch Haq Nawaj reached there and assured the people to take strict action against the accused. He also said that accused were with them. The people then lifted dharna.
A police spokesman identified the accused as teacher Kifayat Ullah, VLW Aftab Ahmed and shopkeeper Imran, all residents of Manjakote in Rajouri. He said they had gone in search of a carpenter Khadam Hussain residing in Mandi area. A case was registered against them. They were later shifted to Loran Police Post in the evening. A large protest was also held by the villagers at Loran and they blocked road for over two hours demanding strict action against the accused.
SP Poonch, Shamsheer Hussain when contacted said that all three have been arrested and their car seized. He said the accused had jumped two `nakas’ and were later intercepted ahead of Mandi by police. He said a case has been registered against them and investigation started. The allegations raised by villagers are being verified by police.
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