*Dr Jitendra lauds cops
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 15: Vice President Municipal Committee Watergam Baramulla and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) local leader Meraj ud Din Malla who was today abducted by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in the North Kashmir district was rescued by police this evening.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that Malla was abducted by LeT militants but was rescued by police this evening. He said that he is with police and is being questioned.
Malla was whisked away by the unknown persons in a Santro vehicle while he was waiting for a cab to attend a marriage function in nearby village. Security forces launched massive searches in the area to trace him. Click here to watch video
A family member said that he reached home this evening. He, however, said that as soon as he reached home, police whisked him away and he is being questioned about the incident and identification of his abductors.
Earlier, his cousin Khalid said that Mehrajudin left his home early morning and appealed kidnapers for his release.
Giving details, his son said that at around 9.30 am he received call from family that some people have kidnapped his father. “I had gone to the fruit market to load fruit in my vehicle. He had gone to attend a marriage ceremony along with his friend who informed us about the incident. His friend told us that both of them were waiting for a cab at the bus stop when a car stopped near them. They bundled my father inside the car while pushing his friend away”, he said.
His wife said that she stopped him from going to the wedding but the bridegroom called him multiple times. “He was his childhood friend and could not refuse. But he was picked before reaching his friend’s home. I appeal the kidnappers to release him”, she said.
The abduction of the BJP leader comes after killing of a BJP leader from Bandipora district and his brother and father last week.
Soon after killings at Bandipora, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president from Baramulla, Marouf Bhat, tendered his resignation from the party.
While resigning, he said that he has been attacked twice in the past, yet nothing has been done about it. “I have not been given even a single Personal Security Officer”, he said.
Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh tweeted: “Relieved to learn that our colleague in #BJP, Mehrajudin Malla who was abducted in Sopore this morning, is back home safe.While Security forces and @JmuKmrPolice deserve all appreciation,where are the #Kashmir Apologists who lose no time in making unsubstantiated charges against security persons, but neither have courage nor conviction to utter a word against terrorists.”
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