HYDERABAD: Dr Airaj Memon, a doctor at the Special Prison Nara who was kidnapped on March 19 in the Civil Lines area was safely recovered on Monday.

Dr Memon, along with his father, Asad Memon, was produced before the media by Hyderabad SSP Sarfaraz Nawaz Shaikh at the police headquarters on Tuesday. The kidnappers had demanded Rs70 million from his family for his release.

The SSP said that suspected kidnapper Saeendad alias Shafi Sepro was arrested and the hostage was recovered while the latter was being shifted from a hideout in Qambar-Shahdadkot district to another one in the riverine forest area of Shaheed Benazirabad district.

The police officer said that the gang of Usman Vakko and Malook alias Viccho Chandio was involved in the kidnapping. He said that several members of the gang and their families were picked up to mount pressure on the kidnappers to free the hostage.

He said that the last call for ransom was made on April 27 which helped police in tracing out the kidnappers.

Dr Airaj’s father denied having paid any ransom. A police source claimed that the police swapped family members of suspects with the hostage.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2019