May 14, 2007	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 26, 1428

MUZAFFARABAD, May 13: AJK police have disagreed with "one-sided inquiry into the abduction of their constable" by Punjab province police and called for a joint probe to unearth facts, it has been learnt.

Constable Shabbir Hussain Butt was picked up from Hazari checkpoint in the Bhimber district on Feb 15 by a nine-member police team of Jalalpur Jattan Police Station led by a sub-inspector, according to an FIR registered in Barnala Police Station.

The constable was one of the five policemen posted at the checkpoint.

SP Bhimber Mohammad Rafique told Dawn by telephone that they had registered a case on the report of checkpoint in-charge head constable Adalat Khan against nine policemen of Jalalpur Jattan under charges ofabduction/abetment in abduction of a government servant, obstructing performance of official duties and rioting.

Adalat Khan's account, he said, was corroborated by witnesses and investigations revealed that the Jalalpur Jattan police had resorted to "unlawful" action under the orders of SHO Hamidullah Waraich.

However, the Jalalpur Jattan police said that they had arrested the "accused" from a village eatery in the territorial limits of Gujrat district.

Constable Butt was wanted by the Jalalpur Jattan police reportedly for abetting the kidnapping for ransom of some Gujrat residents.

The kidnappers had allegedly used a deserted residence of the constable in AJK territory to keep abducted persons there.

However, sources said the kidnapping was not for ransom but the outcome of an old feud which had claimed some lives on both sides.