THATTA, Jan 19: A gang of highwaymen took away hundreds of fertiliser bags from trailers at Saeedpur early on Thursday, after following the goods-laden vehicles left Karachi for Badin.

DSP Sujawal Gul Abbas Pathan talking to Dawn said that some 15 robbers were following the three trailers in a mini truck. They intercepted the trailers near Thatta and took away with them 600 bags of urea fertiliser after making hostage all six drivers and their cleaners.

They took control of steering wheels after overpowering the drivers and cleaners of trailers and took one towards hilly-terrain and the remaining two in thick woods.

Since trailers were equipped with a tracker, the owners on getting unscheduled location signals immediately informed the Thatta police.

Two of the six hostages managed to free themselves and informed about their colleagues kept in Panhwar forest on the right rank of river Indus.

However, bandits succeeded in taking away fertiliser bags which they dumped in a house in Makli.

Heavy police contingents from Thatta, Gharo and Sujawal traced the vehicles and found one in hilly-terrain of Jangshahi and the other two near Panhwar forests.

Other road drivers in protest parked their vehicles in the middle of the highway and blocked it for around five hours.

They closed the highway at 6am and ended the protest by 11am resulting in tremendous problems to commuters.

Police raided a house in Makli and sealed the premises after recovering stolen bags dumped there.

Police arrested Fayaz Ahmed Pirzado, stated to be nephew of a sitting high ranking police officer.

No FIR was registered when the report was filed.