Pastor killing: Police conducts searches

The Indian Reserve Batalion, the Punjab Armed Police and the state crime investigation agency today conducted joint raids in 10 villages around the Rahon Road in connection with the killing of a pastor here.
Pastor Sultan Masih was shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne persons opposite a church on July 15.
The villages, where a door-to-door search was conducted, included Matewara, Khwajke, Chonte, Jagirpur, Gaddapur and Honahar. The joint team, however, is yet to make a breakthrough in the case.
Commissioner of Police R N Dhoke said that a search operation was conducted on a lead that the killers were moving in these areas.

He said that according to their mobile phone location they had fled to this area after the incident.
The police is making all out efforts to nab the culprits at the earliest, the officer said.

State Minority Commission member Albert Dua gave an ultimatum to the Punjab government that if the killers of Pastor Masih were not arrested before Monday, the day of his memorial service, they could announce a big state-level struggle.
Dua made the announcement in the presence of some senior leaders of the community.
The commission's member termed the police investigations, so far, into this case "a complete eye wash".