DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 7: The statement of a girl allegedly kidnapped by the driver of a civil judge on Monday before a court on Tuesday dramatically changed the situation in Taunsa Sharif.

Khalida was reportedly kidnapped on Monday night by driver Niaz Ahmad of civil judge Abdul Razzaq Qureshi. Police registered a case against the driver on the complaint of girl's brother Qadeer and arrested him.

In the meanwhile, the family came to know that the girl was present in the house of the civil judge. The family and residents of the area besieged the house at 11am on Tuesday. The civil judge was also present in his house at that time. The angry mob then entered the residence and damaged the furniture, car and other items as police failed to stop them.

Later, the police registered a case against 40 people and arrested two of the nominated accused. Some members of the local Bar association who were present there offered to inspect the house and the angry mob accepted it. They inspected the house but the girl was not there. However, the siege continued for around five hours.

Meanwhile, the girl reached the office of an Urdu-language newspaper in the evening and denied that she was kidnapped. She claimed that she had been admitted to the clinic of Dr Asghar Chishti for treatment. She said she was taken to the clinic by one of her friends by a blue car whose driver was masked. She went to her friend's house from the clinic.

Later, police took the girl into custody and produced her before civil judge Allah Ditta Anjum where she gave the statement which she had earlier given before newsmen and sought permission to go with her parents.

The police also arrested newsman Azmat Farooq Buzdar and conducting raids for the arrest of Aslam Soomro who took photographs when the angry mob attacked the residence. The journalist community condemned the implication of newsmen and demanded Mr Buzdar's immediate release.