SIALKOT, May 5: The mysterious death of a labourer’s third minor child on Monday created panic in Bhanokey village, Jankey Cheema, Daska tehsil.

The body of Sufian Ali (7), the son of Munawar Hussain, was found in the village field. He had been missing since Sunday afternoon when he had gone outside his house to play with other children. Wounds and torture marks were evident on his body.

Some 45 days ago, the ill-fated labourer’s four-year-old son Irfan Ali was also found dead a few yards away from the village poultry farm. Earlier, about nine months ago, the labourer’s first son Arslan Ali (6) was also found dead from near a tubewell. Munawar Hussain told newsmen that he had no enmity.

Some villagers opined that the mysterious deaths of three sons of the labourer might be an act of ‘hidden forces’.

However, police are busy in unravelling the mysterious deaths of three minor children.

Industrial zone: The provincial government has approved the establishment of an industrial zone for tanneries at a cost of Rs90 million.

According to sources, the proposed tanneries zone will be developed on a 300-acre tract. Around 248 tanneries of different sizes are functioning in and around Sialkot. Of these, nine are working on a large-scale, 79 medium and 160 on small-scale.

The step is being taken to cope with the growing threats of pollution caused by the tanneries in the areas near the district.

The Punjab government will provide 75 per cent as an interest-free loan while the local businessmen will contribute the rest of the 25 per cent.

The project will introduce measures for improving the degraded environmental condition caused by the concentration of tanneries in the district. It will also help reduce pollution caused by the tanneries and improve the overall living and working conditions.