Policeman Held Captive In Kashmir

14 December 2007
The Hindu

Srinagar: Residents of Panzgam village in Kupwara district on Thursday night kept a policeman hostage on suspicion that he had a hand in incidents of arson. The Kupwara Deputy Commissioner and local MLA who went to secure his release on Friday were forced to take shelter in a mosque and prevented from coming out for over two hours by the residents, who demanded action against the policeman. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd and free the official and MLA. The policeman was later arrested and a magisterial inquiry ordered into the incident. Witnesses said four policemen had come to Panzgam and their movement aroused ‘suspicion.’ As there had been incidents of arson in the area recently, residents who believed them to be the culprits, tried to overpower all of them, but three escaped. Aijaz Ahmad from the Trehgam police station was held captive.