March 23, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

LAHORE, March 22: An alleged kidnapper was killed in police ‘encounter’ while another escaped early on Saturday in Shahdara area.

The kidnappers had abducted a boy for Rs2 million ransom and released him after getting Rs0.5 million.

According to a handout, 10-year-old Bilal was kidnapped from Shahdara area on March 12 when he was on his way to a tuition centre.

The kidnappers contacted his father the same day and asked him to pay Rs2 million ransom for his release. They also threatened him with dire consequences in case of informing police.

The father of the boy informed Shahdara police and a case was registered under section 365/A.

Capital City Police Officer Malik Muhammad Iqbal constituted a special team under City Division Investigation SP Sarfraz Ahmed Falki to nab the abductors which collected the particulars of the case, including the mobile call records of the outlaws.

The police team also remained in touch with the victim’s parents.

After negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to release the boy for Rs0.5 million. After receiving the ransom amount, the abductors told Bilal’s father the boy would be handed over to him after two days on Bund Road. The boy was accordingly handed over to his father.

A police team, the handout claimed, which had been deployed near the place where the boy was released, intercepted the kidnappers who were on a motorcycle.

The accused opened fire on the police which was retaliated, the handout said.

During the crossfire, one of the kidnapers, later identified as Mohsin, was killed while the other escaped from the scene, it added.

The police also recovered a pistol and bullets from the crime scene.

The CCPO announced cash and certificates for the raiding team.