Singer known for trolling Coke Studio's 'Ko ko korina' kidnapped along with band members

A DSP was also shot dead during an operation to recover the hostages from Shikarpur vicinity

KARACHI: A day after a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was killed in an encounter with alleged dacoits, the family of Sindhi folk singer, Jigar Jalal, who was allegedly kidnapped in Shikarpur on Sunday night, has asked the police on Wednesday to retreat immediately from their position. The kidnappers have reportedly told the family that they will release the abductees, including the singer, once the police have retreated.

Singer Nabi Bux Chandio, better known as Jigar Jalal who recently shot to fame for his entertaining 'Goth Studio' versions of Koko Korina, Lathay Di Chadar, Sammi Meri Waar, along with his band members was captured by dacoits in the Katcha area on Sunday.

Interestingly, the singer called Sindhi news channel KTN on Wednesday and said that he and his band members were safe. "Neither the police nor the army can reach this place," he said. "I request the Sindh Police not to arrest innocent persons. These arrests will create problems for us," he added.

Narrating the story of the abduction, Jalal said that his band was kidnapped on the way to perform in a wedding ceremony. "I did not reach the village where we were supposed to perform." After the abduction, police said that the singer was invited by dacoits and was also asked to bring some female dancers and was kept in captivity as he did not keep his promise.

"There was no such demand made by anyone," denied Jalal. "We were not invited by these people [abductors]," he justified.

"We have not been tortured by these 'friends' [bandits] yet," Jalal said. "But we won't survive if the police continue their operation and raids," he maintained. "I appeal the police to have mercy on us and try to approach some area influential for our release."

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shikarpur Assistant Superintendent of Police Farooq Amjad Buttar said that Jalal's family had appealed to the police to stop the operation for the recovery of the abductees. "We're hoping to recover him safely within 24 hours," said ASP Buttar. "The Katcha area is quite dangerous," ASP Buttar admitted. He added that the police wanted the safe recovery of all abductees.

DSP killed

On Monday, DSP Rao Shafiullah was killed during the operation while a constable, Babar, was wounded in the exchange of fire between the criminals and the police in an operation in the katcha area.

Police said that the exchange of fire continued for an hour. "Police were near the target," said ASP Buttar. He said that the family had not received any call from the dacoits for ransom. "But we have been asked to stop the operation."

Local residents of Shikarpur said that the dacoits of the area enjoy the patronage of 'local landlords'. Jalal's son, Aftab Chandio, nephew Ameer Ali Chandio, the drummer Nawaz Latif Tunio and driver, Bahadur, has also gone missing.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2019.