Policemen’s kidnapping racket busted across Punjab, Sindh

Suspects under investigation for allegedly kidnapping a man for ransom in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: A group of over half a dozen policemen from Islamabad, Punjab and Sindh have been booked and are being investigated after they allegedly kidnapped a man for ransom in Rawalpindi.

Police say the suspects, some in plainclothes and some in uniform, allegedly kidnapped a property dealer in Wah Cantt on August 29 and released him four days later after receiving a ransom amount of Rs0.4 million.

Asadullah Butt, the victim, has nominated at least six police personnel along with two unidentified uniformed officials who he says picked him from his house in Wah Cantt at gunpoint. The victim says the suspects tortured him for four days and initially demanded Rs9.5 million and two Toyota Prius cars for his release but eventually let him go after the victim’s brother paid Rs0.4 million. The ransom amount was reportedly handed over to constable Shahid, one of the suspects, at a hotel in Attock.

The suspects were identified as constable Asad Nadeem from Islamabad Police, constable Kamran Ali from Rawalpindi police, assistant sub-inspector Sajid, head constable Naveed, Shahid and Aamir. Two of the officials are yet to be named. Ibraheem Kiani, a former police constable, is also mentioned in the FIR for his alleged role in the abduction.

Superintendent of Police Potohar Division Sajid Hussain Khokhar told The Express Tribune that two suspects had been arrested while the rest had been suspended. “We have registered an FIR and are investigating the case. Two suspects have been arrested. One accused official was from Islamabad Police, four from Rawalpindi police and one from Sindh Police,” the SP said. The officer said the official from Sindh was not deputed in Rawalpindi, rather he somehow had connection and friendship with the other suspects.

The victim says he was kept somewhere near Rawalpindi. “They would keep me in this old house at night and would take me to another house during the day,” he wrote in his complaint. He said he took a few da ys to report the matter to the police due to fear of the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2018.