MUZAFFARGARH: A monitoring team of the deputy commissioner on Sunday arrested a middleman and his accountant and recovered 2,000 gunny bags from his godown at Head Bakaini, some 50km from here.

Bet Mir Hazar police have registered a case against Rana Matloob and his accountant under sections 468, 471, 419 and 420.

Deputy Commissioner Saif Anwar Jappa received complaints that some middlemen were purchasing wheat at Rs1,000 per 40 kilo against Rs1,300 price fixed by the government.

On the orders of the DC, Muzaffargarh Assistant Commissioner Dr Saif Bhatti raided the godown of Rana Matloob, seized 2,000 bags, arrested him and his accountant.

The DC has started an inquiry against food staff and revenue officials to ascertain as to how the middlemen got such a large number of gunny bags whereas a farmer could get a maximum of 100 bags from the food department.

According to an official, the the department would start [wheat] procurement from May 2 (tomorrow).

ARRESTED: Jatoi police on Sunday arrested a suspect for allegedly hurling threats at Mukhtar Mai, a women rights activist. Jatoi Station House Officer Ramzan Shahid said suspect Tahir, 22, had been hurling life threats at her for the last two weeks.

She had filed a complaint with the police who arrested him and registered a case against him. Police seized the cell phone and the SIM used by the suspect to call her.

MURDER CASE RESOLVED: Saddar police claimed on Saturday to have resolved [blind] murder of brick kiln labour supervisor.

District Police Officer Awais Ahmad told a press conference that supervisor Ameer Bakhsh had allegedly been kidnapped last month.

He said a team, led by SHO Ali Imran, took some labourers into custody on suspicion. During investigation, labourer Abdul Kareem confessed to killing their supervisor Ameer Bakhsh and receiving Rs140,000 [for the murder].

The DPO said Kareem and his accomplice axed Ameer to death and buried him in a forest.

Police have shifted the body to DHQ hospital for autopsy and registered a case.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2017