GUJRAT, Feb 1: Kharian circle police have failed to recover an office superintendent of the Supreme Court who was kidnapped for Rs20 million ransom by four unidentified men during a dacoity bid near Pind Aziz, Sara-i-Alamgir on Wednesday night.

Reports said SC office superintendent Tariq Bashir, his brother Arif Bashir and two companions Ishtiaq and Raja Iftikhar were on their way to Mirpur from Sara-i-Alamgir by a car (LWN-3202). Near Pind Aziz, their vehicle was intercepted by four motorists (SWB-1451) who held them hostage at gunpoint. The accused took them to a nearby deserted house and snatched cash and other valuables from the official and his three associates.

Later, they kidnapped Tariq Bashir and escaped along with his car. Sara-i-Alamgir police registered a case on the complaint of Arif Bashir.

DPO Syed Ahsan Mehboob and Kharian DSP Raja Zafar reached the spot and constituted several raiding teams for the arrest of kidnappers. Later, the kidnappers abandoned the snatched car near Manglia which was recovered by police.

Sources said the kidnappers contacted family from the cell of the official and demanded Rs20 million ransom for his release. Thereafter, they reduced their demand to Rs10 million when the family showed its inability to pay such a big amount. The sources said the demand was again reduced to Rs5 million.

They claimed that the amount was not paid to the kidnappers till the filling of this report. Some high-ranking police officials were still present at Sara-i-Alamgir and making efforts for the recovery of the official.