RAWALPINDI: A police official was arrested while his two accomplices were at large in kidnapping and torture case.

According to an FIR, police officials had detained a merchant from Peshawar and released him after receiving Rs1 million from his heirs.

Javaid Ahmad had come to Rawalpindi on Dec 6 with Rs300,000 to purchase some goods. He was sitting in a hotel when a man in police uniform came and started interrogating him. In the meanwhile, two persons also joined and snatched Rs300,000 from him.

Ammad Akbar, employer of Javaid Ahmed, said in his FIR registered with Pirwadhai police on Wednesday that the accused shifted the victim to an undisclosed location after covering his face. The victim was detained in a room where he was tortured by the kidnappers who demanded money from him.

On Dec 8, the kidnappers forced him to talk to his family asking him to arrange Rs600,000 more for his release.

Rahimullah, a friend of the victim, brought the money to Rawalpindi. When Mr Rahim arrived in Pirwadhai, the kidnappers detained him as well and took the money. Later, they started demanding more money from Rahimullah following which Rs50,000 were transferred twice in the bank account of one of the accomplices of the police official.

“Yes, Javaid was tortured by the kidnapper,” Ammad Akbar told Dawn while quoting Javaid.

He said after his release, Javaid approached the CTO Rawalpindi who ordered an inquiry which led to the registration of an FIR on charges of kidnapping and robbery and led to the arrest of one of the policemen.

A police spokesman said following a complaint against the constable, an FIR was registered against him and his two friends. The constable was arrested while raids were underway to detain his two accomplices.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2022