SWABI, Sept 3: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday remanded a couple accused of desecrating the Holy Quran in police custody for four days. The police had arrested Chaman Lal and his wife Krishna on charges on Thursday night. Other members of the Hindu family have been moved out of the village. Their whereabouts are not known.

District police officer (investigation) Akhtar Nawaz Khan told Dawn that the remand was secured from the court of Mr Ayaz Khan in Mardan district. He said the couple would be presented in the court on Sept 7.

To a question, Mr Akhtar Nawaz said that the trial would not be held under the blasphemy law. They would be tried instead under the Anti-Terrorism Act, he said.

The police said on Friday that an FIR had been registered against them under Section 295-B PPC.

Sources said that a two-member committee comprising the district police officer Swabi and district police officer Charsadda is holding a probe into the incident. The committee will submit a report on Sept 15.