KARACHI, April 6: Two suspected kidnappers were killed and a policeman was wounded in an exchange of gunfire in Baldia Town on Saturday. A seven-year-old boy, who was abducted for ransom, was recovered safely, officials said.

They said that a joint team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell and Citizens-Police Liaison Committee carried out a raid on a hideout in Baldia Town where Umairullah had been kept for nearly two weeks.

The boy was kidnapped on March 22 while he was playing outside his home in Baldia Town.

“The kidnappers called the family and demanded a ransom of Rs20 million,” said a joint statement of the AVCC and CPLC. “The case was later reported to the police and an FIR was lodged with the Ittehad Town police station. The AVCC-CPLC team took up the case on March 25.”

Headed by the SP AVCC Niaz Khosa and CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy, the team managed to locate the hideout and carried out a raid on Saturday.

An encounter took place between the police and the kidnappers that resulted in the killing of two suspects.

“A suspected woman kidnapper was taken into custody from the hideout. At least three kidnappers managed to escape.

The deceased have not yet been identified,” said the statement.