HANGU, July 28: Police and levy’s personnel recovered two kidnapped persons on Sunday after an exchange fire with the abductors for over three hours at the nearby hill station of Samana, some 25 kilometres from here.

Three men — Khan Rafique, Shabbir Rehman and Azizullah, an Afghan — had been kidnapped along with a Suzuki vehicle from the Hangu Bazaar some days ago and were whisked off to a hideout in the Samana mountains.

But Khan Rafique, somehow, managed to escape and reported the incident to police, sources said.

A raiding party comprising police and levy’s personnel was formed and sent to the Samana mountains. When they came close to the hideout in the Kholi village near Samana, the criminals fired at the party which returned it, and this exchange of fire continued for over three hours.

After the three hours the kidnappers fled the scene, and the raiding party recovered Shabbir and Azizullah from the hideout.

The police sources said the kidnappers and outlaws were wanted in a number of heinous crimes.