Behind bars: Kidnapping accused sets self on fire

Teenage girl was abducted from Shinkiari.

MANSEHRA: A man accused of kidnapping attempted suicide by setting himself on fire. The police constable guarding the prisoner was suspended for negligence, police officials said on Monday.

Shinkiari SHO said on April 27, a teenage girl was kidnapped from Shinkiari while she was on her way to the Rural Health Centre. Her father nominated Younas, son of Gul Zaman, and Noman and Haroon of Ichriyan village in the FIR for kidnapping his daughter. The accused were on the run but Younas was arrested on Sunday and put in the lockup till his physical remand was secured. Somehow, the accused managed to set himself on fire but was rescued by police officials.

He was taken to Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, where according to doctors, he suffered 20% burn injuries.

The Mansehra DPO suspended constable Mushtaq, who was guarding the lockup, and ordered an enquiry against him. However, a family member of the accused alleged that the police themselves set fire to Younas during interrogation and were trying to cover up the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2014.