August 02, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 17, 1428

KHAIRPUR, Aug 1: Three kidnapped milkmen were recovered after an encounter between police and kidnappers in the Ahmedpur area late Tuesday night in which one of the kidnappers was killed.

Four milkmen namely Allah Wasayo, Rab Nawaz, Ali Dino and Mohammad Mithal, all Phulpoto by caste, were returning from Khairpur to Husno village after selling milk. When they reached Lodhra turn in the Ahmedpur area, eight armed men kidnapped them and took them to the kutcha area.

However, Mithal managed to escape from the captivity of the kidnappers and informed the police and villagers. A heavy contingent of police from the Pir-jo-Goth and Ahmedpur police stations rushed to the kutcha area. The police team surrounded the area near Mangarji bridge in Kingri taluka where the kidnapers were holding milkmen.

The police claimed that after an encounter of half an hour, three kidnapped milkmen were recovered and one of the kidnappers was seriously injured. He was taken to the Pir-jo-Goth Rural Health Centre where he died.

The slain kidnapper was identified as Khuda Bux alias Khudo Brohi, resident of Dilshad Brohi village, Garhi Yasin taluka, Shikarpur district. His body was lying unclaimed at the rural health centre till the filing of this report.

The police recovered a Kalashnikov and four magazines from the possession of Khuda Bux.