Kidnappings, police action go in tandem

Katcha area gangs release videos of abducted youths

RAHIM YAR KHAN:

A police operation in the riverine Katcha areas of the district has failed to result in a reduction in cases of abduction for ransom.

On the other hand, a gang of robbers has released a video message, accusing the district police of arresting the entire families instead of the criminals in violation of the law.

According to local sources, the police launched an intensive operation in the Katcha area but cases of kidnapping for ransom have increased.

They said there had also been complaints of keeping local residents in illegal detention and releasing them after some days.

They said 16-year-old Nasir Jukh of Garhi Khair Muhammad was harvesting wheat when dozens of men kidnapped him at gunpoint and took him to the Katcha area. The gang stated in the video message shared on social media that women of the families of its members should be released, otherwise more people would be kidnapped.

The kidnappers also shared the video of an unidentified youth stripped, hung upside down and being tortured.

A young man from Zahir Pir is also held hostage after being lured through a marriage scam. The kidnappers have sent a video of torture on him and demanded Rs10 million for his release. A case of the kidnapping of Mohammad Arbi Datta has been registered in Zahir Pir police station.

The number of people currently abducted from Rahim Yar Khan is four, while there are more from other districts.

Arbi had been kidnapped several days ago, while Ghangru, a community leader of Machhka, had been abducted last month.

Police failed to recover a 14-year-old boy who was kidnapped the other day. The perpetrators, belonging to the Bhukran tribe, have been included in the investigation. The incident occurred in the area of Garhi Khair Muhammad Jhak, under the jurisdiction of Saraj Ahmed police station.

Saraj Ahmed, the father of the boy, was transporting wheat on a tractor trolley with his son Naseer Ali when six unidentified kidnappers from the Bhukran gang attempted to abduct them at gunpoint.

However, when they resisted, the kidnappers abducted Naseer Ali and fled towards the Kacha area. Later, a viral video was released on social media by the Bhukran gang showing Naseer Ali as a victim of abduction.

Another video was also released showing another victim from Khaai Khair Shah being stripped and tortured.

District Police Officer Rizwan Amargundal ordered all necessary measures to secure the release of the abducted 14-year-old boy. He included 25 individuals who had connections with the Bhukran tribe for investigation and search in the Chak Chiragh Shah Bhung area of the Ministry of Interior.

Those subjected to the investigation included Mohammad Shahbaz, Abdul Hamid, Mithal, Imam Din, Somro, Shakeel Ahmed, Wazir Ahmed, Munir Ahmed, Wazir Ahmed Walled Bilal, Abdul Wahid, Liaquat Ali, Ali Nawaz, Rashid Ahmed, Sajid, Tanveer, Aamir, Mujahid, Riaz, Sagheer Ahmed, Ghulam Elahi Baksh, Shehzad, Dost Ali, Muhammad Ali, and Muhammad Abbas.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2023.