Close shave for contractor in Kishtwar area

Renegade turn militant abducts JCB operator, demands ransom
Kishtwar: Brother of a contractor and Congress leader, believed to be right hand of minister for Roads and Buildings Ghulam Muhammad Saroori, had a close shave when a renegade turned militant attacked him at a construction site in Sigdhi area, around 25 kilometers from here. The militant later set a JCB on fire and abducted its operator.
Official sources told News Agency of Kashmir that Congress leader Om Parkash Pasarkote Chatroo had a close shave when a militant opened indiscriminate fire at him at Sigdhi area, this morning.
The contractor, who is brother of Congress leader Piyare Lal, was supervising his construction work being executed under Pradhan Mantry Gram Sadak Yogna (PMGSY) when he was attacked by the militant.
Sources said that more than twenty fires were shot at Om Parkash, who escaped unhurt. His PSO fired in retaliation but militants forced them to flee from the area.
The renegade turned militant, identified as Muhammad Amin of Chatroo area, later set a JCB on fire and abducted its operator. The abducted operator has been identified as Sat Paul of Himachal Pradesh.
Official sources claimed that the contractor and his brother has been facing constant threat from the said militant. "A ransom of Rs 3 lakh has been demanded for the release of the JCP operator", sources told NAK on the condition of anonymity.
It was reliably learnt that Muhammad Amin had gone underground after stealing four AK rifles from the Personal Security Officers (PSOs) of former NC MLA Qazi Jalal-ud-Din, where he was working as domestic help. Security forces after managing a contact with him had persuaded him to work for them.
"He is instrumental in killing more than a dozen hardcore militants in the area following which he surrendered before the security forces, who had promised him a reputed life and heavy cash rewards", sources said adding, "However, when the name of the renegade surfaced in some other murder cases and security forces failed to keep their promises, he again snatched official weapon of a police personal and joined militants".
The renegade has created a reign of terror in the area and believed to have created its own group with the help of some local Gujjar youth. He is openly extracting money from the contractors working in the area, while the security forces are watching helplessly.