TOBA TEK SINGH: An auto workshop owner of Chak 190-GB, Rajana, was allegedly released by his kidnappers based in Ghotki district, Sindh, after receiving Rs1.5 million from his brother, some 12 days after his kidnapping.

According to Rajana police, in an FIR registered on Friday under section 365A of the Pakistan Penal Code, complainant Shabbir stated that his brother Zameer ran a workshop at Adda Chak 189-GB, Patli and would also buy and sell second-hand tractors.

He said responding to an advertisement on social media about a tractor for sale, Zameer went to Ghotki with Rs91,000 cash to buy the vehicle.

He said that on his way, Zameer was intercepted by around a dozen dacoits riding motorcycles, who snatched the money he was carrying and kidnapped him.

He was trapped by Ghotki-based criminals through a social media ad

The complainant said the kidnappers took his brother to their hideout in the Indus riverine area where they restricted his movement by chaining him.

Shabbir said that following the incident, he received a phone call from the kidnappers who demanded Rs10 million for releasing his brother, but later reduced the demand to Rs5m.

He said they also showed him live videos showing his brother being subjected to severe torture.

However, he said, that he told the caller that being a poor man, he could arrange Rs1.5m only.

He said that after the kidnappers agreed, he collected Rs1.5m by selling all his cattle heads and gold ornaments of the women of his family and got his brother released after paying the ransom amount to the dacoits.

Zameer told reporters that there were also a number of other kidnapped men and children detained by the dacoits at their hideout for ransom.

He said when the family of a kidnapped man could not arrange the ransom money, the kidnappers shot him dead in front of his family members and others in the captivity.

Rajana police said investigation into the matter was underway.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2022