May 27, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

SHIKARPUR, May 26: Villagers of Sarwarkot blocked Shikarpur-Kandhkot section of Indus Highway near Khanpur on Monday to protest against police failure to recover two men who had been kidnapped by dacoits 10 days ago.

As a result of the blockade, vehicular traffic to and from Punjab, Balochistan and other districts of Sindh remained suspended for six hours.

The highway was reopened on the invention of the notables and police which assured the protesters of early recovery of the kidnap victims belonging to the Brohi community.

KIDNAP BID FOILED: Villagers foiled an attempt to kidnap a trader of Rustum town by bandits and caught hold of two of the four kidnappers on Sunday night.

Four dacoits tried to kidnap Mohammad Ismail Arain but the villagers offered resistance. A police team also reached there and an encounter ensued between the villagers and police.

The shootout ended on the arrest of two kidnappers identified as Wazir Ali Mahar and Ali Mohammad Mahar, residents of Wazirabad village.

However, the remaining two kidnappers succeeded in escaping.

The Rustum police on the complaint of Mohammad Ibrahim Arain have registered an FIR against Wazir Ali, Ali Mohammad and two unidentified kidnappers.