Without a trace: Four persons abducted in Mattani

Officials says militants have become more active since the general elections.

PESHAWAR:

Three technicians and a driver employed by a mobile phone company were kidnapped from Kohat Road, Mattani by unidentified men on Thursday night. The victims were on their way to Peshawar when they disappeared along with their vehicle.

Police said there was a probability the men were kidnapped by militants for ransom, as several officials belonging to private telecom companies have been abducted from Kohat Road in the past, and later for large sums of money.

“We received a complaint from the telecom company and we have started an investigation, but no FIR has been registered so far,” said an official of Mattani police station. “They (the victims) were traveling in an XLI car and we have confirmed they crossed Kohat tunnel into Darra Adam Khel, after which they disappeared.”

The official added militants had been active in the area for the past few years, but their operations had increased in frequency after the general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2013.