January 29, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 25,1423

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MULTAN, Jan 28: Electricity supply to Dera Bugti district of Balochistan was restored on Tuesday after a 13-day suspension.

The supply to Dera and Sui areas was suspended on Jan 14 when some poles were reportedly damaged due to the use of heavy artillery by the Bugti tribesman against rival Mazaris.

Later, some Mazari tribesman pulled down electric cables from 227 poles installed to supply power to Dera Bugti district. Cases have been registered against some unidentified tribesmen for stealing the cable both in Punjab and Sindh.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have, so far, failed to track down the tribesmen who kidnapped the Rojhan police SHO, inspector Farooq Leghari, and constables Nazar Hussain and Mohammad Tufail on Sunday night along with an official vehicle (RP-7000) and a wireless set from the Indus Highway.

Police have registered a case against some 18 unidentified Bugti tribesmen for “kidnapping” the three. The Dera Ghazi Khan range DIG Police, Asif Nawaz, along with his force, visited Mazari village and the area from where the Bugtis kidnapped the police officials.

Sources in police department said neither the kidnappers had conveyed their demands for the release of the policemen, so far, nor the authorities could reach them (the kidnappers).

Speaking at a press conference in Rajanpur on Tuesday, the DIG said the efforts were under way to secure release of the three. However, he added, it could take two to three days.

He said some 17 joint checkposts of police and border military police (BMP) were being set up in the troubled area for the maintenance of law and order.

A proposal to merge BMP in police department had even been sent to the provincial government and the home department.

People in tribal areas suspected that a gang of highwaymen, comprising Chakrani clansmen of Bugti tribe and Umranis of Mazari tribe, might be involved in the kidnapping of the policemen.

They said the gang was notorious for kidnapping and vehicle snatching on the Indus Highway.