Mosque fire case: Dar's son being questioned

Police picked up former minister of state for home (union) Mohammad Maqbool Dar's son Gowhar Ahmad for questioning in connection with the attempt by some miscreants to set three mosques on fire in Shangus last week.

Sources said that Gowhar's name surfaced during interrogation of some persons arrested on suspicion during investigations. The police picked up 30 persons in the area for questioning, most of whom were released after questioning. Gowhar was picked up from his Nawgam residence in Achabal on Tuesday.

While senior police authorities are reluctant to confirm the arrest of Dar's son, they do not deny it also. They said that several persons were picked up for questioning.

The attempt to set the mosques on fire had sparked off massive protests in the area.

A senior official said that the persons involved in the desecration of mosques have been taken into custody and would be produced before mediapersons in a couple of days. he however refused to identify them.

Maqbool Dar, who was minister of state for home during the National Front rule at the Centre, is presently in the Congress.

First Published: Jan 17, 2007 20:08 IST