Back home: Abducted girl recovered during search op

One of the kidnappers killed while four others arrested, says DPO.

DI KHAN: A girl who had been abducted from Penyalla, DI Khan two days ago was recovered by the police during a search operation on Monday night.

According to an official of Penyalla police station, Tasleem Bibi was kidnapped on Sunday. Her mother, Shahnaz Bibi, consequently filed a complaint with the police.

“As per Shahnaz Bibi’s statement, six armed men entered their house, put a gun to her head and kidnapped her daughter,” the official said. “Ghullam Farid, the girl’s father, was not at home at the time.”

An FIR was lodged and five suspects, who belonged to a gang of dacoits, were nominated in the case. “Muhammad, Shahid Afridi, Din Muhammad, Dilawar and Iftikhar were suspected to be involved in Tasleem Bibi’s kidnapping,” the police official told The Express Tribune. “They all belong to the Zomani group—a gang which has been involved in several incidents of kidnapping, extortion, rape and murder.”

Subsequently, DIG Abdul Ghafar Afridi took notice of the incident and directed the DI Khan DPO to immediately recover the kidnapped girl.

Under the direction of the DIG and DPO, police began a search operation in Penyalla on Monday night.

According to a statement issued by the DPO’s office on Tuesday, Muhammad was killed during an exchange of fire while the other four were taken into custody. Tasleem Bibi was recovered and handed over to her family.

“Muhammad was the leader of the gang and had been wanted in 19 cases,” the statement said. “Residents of the area have lauded the operation as they can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”

The gang has been operating in the area for many years now. Police had repeatedly taken action against them in the past but the efforts were in vain.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2015.