Cases on the rise: Man kidnapped in Hangu

HANGU:

Ilyas, a resident of Bypass Road, was returning home from the neighbourhood mosque Friday night when he was abducted by unidentified men.

An official of the Hangu police added that the kidnappers shifted him to an undisclosed location. An FIR was registered on the complaint of Ilyas’ father Munawar Khan. Further investigation is under way.

Incidents of kidnappings have recently been on the rise in Hangu district. Since Monday, at least 12 cases of abductions have been reported.

Five men grazing their cattle were kidnapped from fields in Ibrahimzai on Monday by unidentified men. During the chase, police and locals managed to rescue two of them.

The same day, six other people were abducted from outside a mosque in Shahokhel, Lakki Bazaar. After three hours of crossfire between the kidnappers and the police, all six were rescued but the kidnappers managed to flee. A joint search operation was conducted by police and security forces, during which 39 suspects were arrested. Heavy weapons were also seized from their possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2014.