GILGIT, July 4: SSP Faizan Safdar has been sent on a two-week leave and SP Mustafa has taken over in his place, informed sources said on Friday.

Northern Areas IGP Ahsan Mukhtar had issued the orders after an incident in which some youngsters of Nomal village had manhandled the SSP on Wednesday in the Naltar Valley. The SSP was held hostage for some 12 hours.

The youngsters accused the SSP of opening fire at a passenger jeep under the influence of alcohol.

The protesters had also damaged the SSP’s official vehicle (GLT-B 0098).

The police and Frontier Constabulary had rescued the besieged SSP after negotiations with the protesters.