GUJRANWALA, July 2: The Anti-Terrorism Court No 1, Gujranwala, on Tuesday handed down death sentence to two convicts for kidnapping a boy for ransom. The court also awarded three-year imprisonment each to both the convicts under another offence besides forfeiting their properties.

According to the prosecution, Iftikhar Ahmad and Masudur Rahman kidnapped Usman, 5, of Kathala Sheikhan, Mandi Bahauddin, on March 27, 2002, and demanded a ransom of Rs1 million for his release. They kept the boy in their custody for 24 days and released him when his father paid them the ransom.

However, police arrested both the accused.

Meanwhile, the Anti-terrorism Court No 2 acquitted an SHO and 10 other police officials in a double murder case.

According to the prosecution, Kot Ladha SHO inspector Malik Liaqat Ali and other police officials arrested two youths, Abid Masih and Shafqat Masih, in 1998 and later killed them in an encounter in 1999.

SUICIDE: A girl committed suicide by setting herself on fire in the Tower Chowk area here on Tuesday.

Reports said Shehar Bano, 13, of Lambanwali Cantonment village was forced by her parents to work as a maid in the house of one Shahzad. The dejected girl set herself on fire after sprinkling kerosene on her clothes. She died on way to hospital.

Police are investigating.

SHOT DEAD: A man was shot dead allegedly by his brother-in-law in Tetley village here on Tuesday.

Riaz of Kur Kur village contracted court marriage with a girl of the same village a few months ago. On Tuesday, he was on his way when his brother-in-law, Munawwar, opened fire on him killing him on the spot.