KUWAIT, July 29: Two children suffocated to death last night as a result of a fire that broke out in a house in the area of Al-Firdous on Friday. Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) said in a statement firefighters managed to control the blaze that erupted in one of the homes in Al-Firdous, yet two children lost their lives as a result of inhaling smoke. The statement added that firefighters managed to fish out the children from the roof of the house and handed them over to the medical emergency team, where they were announced dead later on in the hospital. Director of Public Relations and Information Department at KFSD Colonel Khalil Al-Amir appealed to citizens and residents not to leave their children unattended in the house or with nannies. He also called for the need to provide a smoke detector and fire extinguisher in the house so as to prevent the spread of fire.

Meanwhile, Al-Watan Arabic daily said the two Kuwaiti children - two and five years old - tried in vain to escape death by climbing to the upper floor. The daily also said the maids in the house escaped leaving behind the two children. According to sources delay in reporting the fire and firemen entering the house without proper firefighting gear led to the death of the children. The cause of the fire is not known.

Maid attempts suicide: An As-ian maid consumed a quantity of pesticide inside her sponsor’s home in Ardiya area in an attempt to end her life. Based on a distress call the sponsor placed to the Operations Room to report the issue, a team of rescuers was deployed to the scene. The woman has since been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Farwaniya Hospital. A case was registered against her.

KD 80, cellphone stolen: An Indian in his 40s filed a case against two people who attacked and took his mobile phone and KD 80 cash by force. The man narrated he was walking in the evening when suddenly a car approached him and two people alighted from it. However, he was surprised when they asked him to bring his possessions and started beating him. Finally, they took the items and escaped. Police collected details of the suspects for their arrest.

2 held with iron theft: Two Ban-gladeshi expatriates were apprehended by securitymen on patrol in Amghara area, with a quantity of stolen iron rods and copper cables in their possession. Apparently, the officers had spotted the men in the area late at night and asked them to pull over for checking, and found stolen items. They were taken to the concerned authority.

3 citizens injured in fight: Thr-ee citizens were injured in different places of their bodies as they fought with five other persons at a commercial complex in Salmiya area. Securitymen accompanied paramedics to the scene after the Operations Room had been notified of the episode, and the injured people were referred to the Mubarak Hospital. Sources said the other members of the feuding party fled the scene at the sight of police.

20-yr-old woman abused: A Ku-waiti woman in her late 20s told policemen in Salmiya that she was abused and humiliated by a stranger inside a commercial complex in the same area. The woman said she was shopping and the suspect tried to give his number to her. However, he humiliated and abused her when she refused. A case was registered for investigation.

Drugs, liquor seized: The Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh police have arrested an unidentified Kuwaiti man for possessing hashish, heroin and drug pills in addition to a gun and ammunition. The security sources said the man was arrested on suspicion. The sources added the man tried in vain to escape on foot while he was being taken to a police car but he was overpowered, handcuffed and taken to a police station. After initial interrogations he has been referred to the concerned authorities. Meanwhile, a citizen was arrested by patrolmen along Abdalli Motorway for the possession of 5 narcotic pills and a bottle of imported liquor. He was sent to the relevant authority without delay.

Police arrest 18 Asians: The Haw-alli police have arrested 18 Asians for violating residence laws and referred them to the concerned authorities, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. The violators were arrested during a security campaign in Salmiya and Hawalli. According to eyewitness reports police closed all entries and exits to the Restaurants Street and various other roads during the campaign. Police also stretched their campaign to the public transport buses. Most of those arrested are people who failed to benefit from the Amiri pardon which began on March 1, 2011 and ended on June 30 of this year.

Fake passports issued: The Jahra police have arrested a three-man bedoun gang for issuing fake Article 17 passports and visas to fellow bedoun to help them perform Hajj and Umrah, reports Al-Anba daily. According to a security source the Jahra Investigation Department received a report that three men had advertised in local newspapers that they were offering services to people interested in traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj. Acting on this information the securitymen arrested the mastermind and the latter gave the names of his two accomplices. Police have seized from the men six fake passports. Police investigations are continuing.

MoI probes theft of guns: The Ministry of Defense has opened an investigation into the theft of 16 M16 guns and 1,500 rounds of ammunition from a naval base, reports Al-Rai daily. Military sources say the theft was discovered during the stocktaking process at the Naval Defense Base at the Airport. The sources added the Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Ahmed Al-Khaled who was informed about the incident has formed an investigation committee to interrogate all military personnel who work at the arms depot of the base.