May 29, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, May 28: Four people, including a child, were kidnapped near 34,000 Mori area bordering Naushahro Feroze and Nawabshah districts late on Monday.

Mohammad Saleh Bhurt, a peasant of Imam Ali Bhurt, with his six-year-old son Nafees, nephew Mohammad Hayat, 16, and driver Qasim Rahu was going to his village Haberi in a van carrying two bulls as well.

When they reached near 34,000 Mori within the limits of Pubjo police station, five armed men intercepted them at gunpoint and kidnapped all of them and took the van with the animals away.

When contacted, the DPO of Naushahro Feroze, Zulfiqar Ali Larik, said that the incident took place in Nawabshah district. On the other hand, Nawabshah DPO Zulfiqar Khuhawar said that it was the jurisdiction of Naushahro Feroze police.

On Tuesday, the kidnapped farmer, Mohammad Saleh, telephoned his landlord’s Munshi (secretary) in Haberi and informed him of their kidnapping. He told him that the kidnappers were demanding Rs5 million as ransom for their release.

Imam Ali said that the kidnappers were in contact with his Munshi and had reduced ransom demand to Rs1 million. He said that the kidnappers informed him that the condition of the child, Nafees, was not good.

He said that the kidnappers had left the van outside the UBL’s Naushahro Feroze branch.—Correspondent