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Srinagar, Sept. 20: A kidnap drama rocked separatist stronghold Baramulla today after a police head constable was abducted by some “miscreants” demanding the release of a stone-thrower as part of a hostage swap deal.
A police spokesperson said the head constable, Mushtaq Ahmad, was rescued with the help of the army.
The spokesperson said Ahmad was “kidnapped by some miscreants near Sabzi Market, Baramulla”.
A police official, however, said Mushtaq was abducted by some local stone-throwers who were seeking the release of a stone-thrower arrested a few days back.
Baramulla is in north Kashmir where clashes between stone-throwers and security forces are common, though this was perhaps the first time that stone-throwers had abducted a police official to seek the release of a colleague.
“The head constable was wearing a uniform … but was unarmed when he was abducted. He remained with them (the abductors) for some hours after which he was rescued,” the official, who is not authorised to speak to the media, said.
“They (the stone throwers) approached the police and asked them to release that particular stone-thrower who is wanted in 13 cases of stone throwing and had a non-bailable warrant against him.”
The official said the alleged stone-throwers fled when security forces encircled the structure where the police official was being held hostage.
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