SWAT: The police on Monday claimed the recovery of a kidnapped Sikh boy and the arrest of his captors.

The Mingora police said Karam Chund, a resident of Mingora, lodged a complaint against his brothers, including Janam Raj and Prem Chand, and his nephew, Jatindar Kumar, for the ‘kidnapping’ of his son, Taran Kumar.

They, however, said the investigation found the accused to be innocent.

The police said further probe helped them trace the culprits.

DSP (city) Badshah Hazrat told reporters that Taran Kumar was recovered from a ‘fake pir’, Taj Mohammad of Kedam area, in Lahore.

He said the fake spiritual leader first befriended the Sikh family and then took Taran Kumar to Lahore and kidnapped him there for money.

“No one knew about the whereabouts of Taran Kumar for more than five months. The kidnappers took around Rs5.5 million from his father,” he said.

The DSP said the investigation led the police to reach the real culprit and the accomplice, his sister-in-law, who were taken into custody.

He said Taj Mohammad falsely told the Sikh family that he had spiritual powers and could reveal future events regarding them.

The official said the police were quizzing the arrested people about the kidnapping.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2022