Law enforcers rescue 71-year-old Hamdard University professor from hideout in Balochistan

Another abducted person was also found at the kidnappers’ hideout.

KARACHI: A Hamdard University professor, who was abducted nearly two weeks ago, was rescued by the law enforcers on Wednesday. Two people involved in the kidnapping have also been arrested.

The 71-year-old professor, colonel (retd) Iftikhar Abidi, went missing on November 16 when he was on his way to Baqai University to perform his duties as an external examiner. The law enforcers became aware that he was kidnapped when they found his abandoned car from the Northern Bypass in Gulshan-e-Maymar during a routine patrol.

The Anti-Violent Crime Cell, in collaboration with the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, investigated the case. According to officials from the crime cell, the kidnappers had demanded Rs10 million for the professor’s release and warned the family with dire consequences if they failed to pay. After negotiations between both the parties, the ransom was brought down to Rs4 million.

“We took the family into our trust, and when they went to pay the ransom, we went with them,” DSP Ghulam Subhani of the crime cell told The Express Tribune. He said that the police arrested one of the kidnappers, Anwar Rind, when he arrived at the Northern Bypass to collect the money. The police then conducted a raid at the hideout of the culprits in Sakran, Balochistan. They found the professor and another abducted person, Nisar Soomro, there.

“As soon as we got there, the kidnappers started firing at us,” said Subhani. “But since we outnumbered them, they left the abductees behind and fled.” However, one of the kidnappers Ahsan Jatoi, was caught while he was attempting to flee.

Soomro is a resident of Sachal Goth and runs his own business. He was kidnapped from the area in which his house is located on November 25. The kidnappers demanded Rs10 million as ransom money from his family.

Both the abductees were taken to Sakran on the day that they were kidnapped and detained in a house. “The kidnappers used to move the captives around a lot and often used to make them traverse through jungles.

The kidnapped people were kept chained all the time,” said Subhani. He said that the professor was not in position to give more details as he was tired and doctors had advised him to rest.

Initial investigations revealed that this group of kidnappers operates in both provinces and that residents of Karachi and Sakran are its members.

It has been involved in various kidnapping cases in Karachi, especially those that occur at the Northern Bypass, Super Highway, Manghopir, Gadap Town and Sohrab Goth.

Businessmen also found

Two businessmen, who were abducted by the same group four days ago from Gulistan-e-Jauhar, were also rescued from Bahadur Goth in Afghan Basti, near the Super Highway. According to AVCC officials, Ameen and Sher Wali were safe when found and the kidnappers, Rashid Brohi and Bakhtawar Mehsud, were arrested. Two TT pistols were found from the men.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2011.