November 1, 2001	Thursday	Shaba’an 14, 1422

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BAHAWALPUR, Oct 31: The investigation of church massacre has been widened to other districts of the Punjab in a bid to track down the assailants.

It is learnt that the local police have sought assistance from their counterparts in other districts.

Local religious organizations are also being scrutinized. Records of local hotels are being peered as well to find the clue of assailants.

Several persons, who were rounded up during the last two days, are also being vigorously cross-examined by the two investigation teams. But, so far they came off with nothing. Police highups admit that only eight persons have been held for interrogation.

Source said police would also examine about 1,000 seminaries across the Bahawalpur division.

Meanwhile, police have tightened security around mosques, imambargahs and churches, particularly in the Bahawalpur division. At St. Dominican Church alone, the scene of Sunday’s tragedy, 16 constables and a headconstable have been deployed.

Father Rocus Pitras has denied that Mrs Nazim Jalal, a lady teacher, has been threatened on telephone by an anonymous caller after her interview in a local newspaper.

Meanwhile, a senior administrative officer on behalf of the Punjab government has given away cheques of Rs50,000 each to five injured.