SUKKUR, Jan 18: The Sukkur police arrested three kidnappers — Ghani Mirbahar, Arbelo Langa, and Rafi Memon — and released their hostage, Munawwar Rajput, a transporter, after an ‘encounter’ in the Bhindi village in the Shah Belo forest on Friday.

A fourth kidnapper, Mengal, managed to escape.

All were involved in kidnapped Mr Rajput on Nov 16, 2001.

However, this correspondent learnt from reliable sources that some influential people were allegedly involved in a deal for getting the hostage released. A police party then raided the hideout and recovered Mr Rajput.

The SSP, Sukkur, Din M. Baloch, Sukkur, declined to disclose the names of the influential people involved in the dealing.