KOHAT, June 25: A military spokesman on Monday said that only one member of the Frontier Corps had been kidnapped from Ustarzai area on Saturday last and not three as reported on Sunday and added that the other two persons were civilians.

FC sepoy Izzat Ali was vacationing in his hometown Ustarzai when he was kidnapped.

Police said the victims were kidnapped by a gang led by Balo Mian. They said they were not yet sure about the identity of the other two men accompanying Mr Ali when he visited the shrine of Pir Yaqoot Baba.

Although it was still not clear whether the two were civilians or army men, it was learnt that they hailed from the North Waziristan Agency and were staying in the area as guests of Captain (retd) Mazhar Ali Shah.

Police learnt about the incident only after the sepoy’s father lodged a missing person’s report with the police station.

The vehicle in which the three men were reportedly travelling was found abandoned in the Kachai area.

“It cannot be said whether the crime was committed in the same area from where the vehicle was recovered or somewhere else. The kidnappers may have abandoned the vehicle here to divert the attention of the police. Similarly, the number of victims is also not yet confirmed,” a police officer said.