GILGIT, Oct 28: No clue has been found to a missing student of a private school who along with a classmate jumped into the Gilgit River on Monday apparently to avoid being abused by their captors.

Briefing newsmen here on Thursday, Northern Areas Assistant Inspector-General of Police Haji Dilpazeer said the police had arrested seven out of eight accused involved in the incident while the search for the eighth had intensified.

Parents of the missing student, Muslim Khan, and the public representative from Ghizer district who called on the AIG, appreciated the swift action taken by the Gilgit police and hoped that the culprits would not go unpunished. The AIG informed them that the police had registered an FIR.

Principal of the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, who was also present on the occasion, said that he had never received any complaint against Muslim Khan and Shafa Ali. However, he said, Raja Abid Ali, who is also a student of his school and allegedly had links with a gang, had an attitude problem but did not have a criminal history. He said the school was making a comprehensive plan to avoid such mishaps in future.

Meanwhile, students of the F.G. Danyore College blocked the Karakoram Highway for two hours in Danyore to protest against excesses meted out to students and burnt tyres.

CHINESE ENGINEERS: The Northern Areas administration has tightened the security for 200 Chinese engineers working at various development projects in the region.