RAWALPINDI: Police have arrested seven people on charges of kidnapping, detaining and torturing two officials of land revenue department in Moza Khanna Kak where they went to retrieve land of a woman.

The victims were identified as Girdawar Malik Navid and Patwari Babar and they were allegedly kidnapped in connivance with former Union Council chairman. First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on the complaint of naib Tehsildar Saqib Rehman.

Assistant Commissioner Saddar Mehar Ghulam Abbas told Dawn that a team of land revenue department including Tehsildar Rawalpindi reached Khanna Kaak to retrieve seven kanals of Ms Amira Hayyat, daughter of an armed forces official.

The woman had lodged a complaint against the land grabbers in an open katcheri held jointly by Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq and City Police Officer Mohammad Ahsan Younas some days ago.

Assistant Commissioner Saddar Mehar Ghulam Abbas said the kidnappers tortured the officials of revenue department and damaged their vehicles and detained Girdawar Malik Navid and Patwari Babar whereas Tehsildar managed to escape from the scene.

The AC said on receiving report about the incident, he immediately informed deputy commissioner and City Police officer.

CPO Mohammad Ahsan Younas ordered SP Rawal Rai Mazhar to rescue the detainees and arrest the culprits. A heavy police contingent led by SHO PS Sadiqabad Tahir Rehan and AC Saddar Mehar Ghulam Abbas reached the spot and managed to free the detained official of revenue department and arrested seven persons.

AC Saddar Mehar Ghulam Abbas said strict action was being taken against the land grabbers. He said no one would be allowed to grab land of citizens. He said police fully cooperated with the district government during the rescue operation.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2021