TIMERGARA: The police with the assistance of Counter Terrorism Department and Crime Branch, Peshawar, traced a case of missing child and recovered his body from the under-construction house of his maternal uncle at Bagh Maidan here on Thursday.

The child was buried in the lawn of the house owned by Mohammad Wahid, maternal uncle of the child.

District police officer Arif Shahbaz Wazir told this correspondent that a 4th grader Arsalan s/o Mohammad Nabi, a resident of Gumbatay Maidan, had been missing since July 2, 2018.

He said the family was informed by unknown people that the child had been kidnapped for ransom.

On return from Dubai, the child’s father nominated Mohammad Wahid, his wife and son Zahoor in the case and police arrested them.

Prime accused in Saudi Arabia

The accused denied the crime and were released from jail on bail.

The alleged prime accused, according to police, soon left for Saudi Arabia. The Maidan police sought help from the CTD and Crime Branch, Peshawar.

One Zahoor, son of Wahid, was taken into custody again three days ago who not only confessed, but also identified the place where the child was buried.

The police and TMA staff in the presence of a civil judge and doctor on Thursday recovered the body from the lawn of a under-construction house. The Lal Qila police have registered a case against Mohammad Wahid and his son Zahoor.

Meanwhile, hundreds of local residents took out a procession from Bagh Maidan and chanted slogans in support of the police. They also demanded early arrest of the main accused through Interpol.

DENGUE ACTION PLAN: Lower Dir deputy commissioner Saadat Hassan on Thursday chaired a meeting for devising dengue action plan at Balambat.

Additional deputy commissioner Ashfaq Ahmad, all assistant commissioners, heads of government departments, assistant director local government, TMOs and other stakeholders attended the meeting.

Deputy district health officer Dr Irshad Rughani said that all stakeholders would be taken on board in order to run an effective awareness campaign. The participants agreed to devise a strategy for the prevention of dengue in the district.

Meanwhile, assistant commissioner, Samar Bagh, raided local markets and arrested a butcher with a dead animal. The meat was confiscated and the butcher sent to jail.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2020