TAXILA: The Attock police on Sunday claimed to have apprehended five alleged kidnappers and safely recovered their 11-year-old victim.

Attock District Police Officer Syed Shahzad Nadeem Boukhari said at an emergency press conference that Mirza village resident Farrukh Sultan had told the police on July 17 that his 11-year-old son was abducted by unknown individuals who were demanded Rs1 million for his safe release.

The police registered a case under section 365-A of the Pakistan Penal Code and section seven of the Anti-Terrorism Act based on his complaint, he said.

A police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Raja Fayyazul Haq, the Crime Investigation Agency in-charge, negotiated with the kidnappers over the phone and kept watch on their movement, Mr Boukhari said. The ransom was reduced to Rs700,000, which was given to the kidnappers who then released the victim.

After the child was recovered, police on Sunday raided the kidnappers’ hideout and arrested all five. He said the suspects are from the Havilian district in Abbotabad, living in Awanabad in Attock. Two pistols and the vehicle used by the kidnappers were also recovered.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2019