Shootout: ‘Kidnappers’ killed, hostage recovered

The gang had been wanted for several abductions in Sahiwal: Police

LAHORE: Three alleged kidnappers were killed and two policemen injured in a shootout on Saturday as police safely recovered a child who had been held hostage for several days. Akaf, 13, had been abducted from near his house at Scheme No 2 in Sahiwal district on January 8. Soon after, his father Ikramul Haq was sent a ransom demand for Rs1.5 million. Haq paid the ransom, but the kidnappers then demanded another Rs0.5 million for the release of his son, Sahiwal District Police Officer Muntazar Zaidi said. The DPO set up a six-member police team to locate the kidnappers and recover the child. The police located the house and conducted a raid. A shootout ensued in which two of the policemen   ASI Amer Ishaq and Constable Waheed Akhtar   were injured, while three alleged kidnappers were killed, said the DPO. The dead were identified as Shahid, Rashid and Azeem. Two others fled the scene. The DPO said that the gang had been wanted for several abductions in Sahiwal and their demise was a relief for the people of the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2013.