Ransom paid: Two of three kidnapped cousins reach home

Body of the third hostage was found in the fields on Friday.

BAHAWALPUR:

Of the three cousins who were abducted on December 26, two reached home on Tuesday night after their families paid the ransom, families of the kidnapped men told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.  

One of them was killed by the kidnappers on Friday and his body abandoned in the fields near his house. It was found by some neighbours, who had informed the family. The deceased was buried after the family refused to allow a post-mortem examination.

Muhammad Farhan, Muhammad Shahbaz and Muhammad Zeeshan were abducted from Basti Bahadurabad in Khanqah Sharif near Bahawalpur.



Abid, a brother of the deceased, said the kidnappers had demanded a Rs2 million ransom. They were told not to inform the police. They had threatened to kill the men if police were contacted, Abid said.

He said the families had asked for time since to arrange the amount. The family had informed the police and were trying to arrange the money when they were informed that Farhan had been killed. Abid said the incident terrified them and they then gave the abductors the money without informing the police.

On Tuesday night, he said, Shahbaz and Zeeshan were handed over to their families.



Families of the deceased and the released men condemned the police for their failure to nab the kidnappers. Abid alleged the abductors killed Farhan because police were talking about raids to arrest them.

“Had they (police) been more discrete, Farhan wouldn’t have been killed. We regret informing the police,” he added.

The station house officer concerned said that the police were investigating the case. He said the family had chosen not to take the police into confidence regarding the payment of ransom. He said the police were looking for the culprits.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2013.