SUKKUR: The Shikarpur police on Sunday claimed to have safely rescued four hostages, including the two Sepco employees abducted from the Karampur grid station of Kandhkot-Kashmore district 20 days ago.

Shikarpur SSP Amjad Ali Shaikh told the media that a ‘targeted’ operation was planned to rescue them after a tip-off was received that they were being shifted from one hideout to some other by their kidnappers.

A strong police force supported by a technical team was sent to the specified area in the riverine area of Naparkot located in Garhi Tegho, he said.

He added the police force was headed by ASP Khanpur (Shikarpur district) Syed Fazal Ali Shah. The force raided the specified hideout without giving the kidnappers — members of a dreaded gang — a chance to understand the situation or cause any harm to the hostages, the ASP said.

“The kidnapers found no other way but to abandon the hostages and flee the area to avoid being killed or arrested,” he aid. The freed hostages — Sepco employees Jameel Ahmed Abro and Asif Arian; and Abdul Rahim and Ibrahim Jafferi — were brought to the Kandhkot police station for legal formalities. Later, they were handed over to their families.

Dacoit carrying head money surrenders before police

The Sukkur police on Saturday claimed that Wazir Ali Jatoi, a hardened criminal carrying a head money of Rs1.5 million, surrendered himself before police.

Sukkur SSP Singhar Malik told the media that his surrender came due to immense pressure on criminal gangs in the riverine area of Bagarji and Shah Belo as part of the massive police operation in several upper Sindh districts.

He said that Wazir Ali Jatoi was wanted in numerous cases of heinous crimes including murder, kidnapping for ransom, dacoity and extortion registered against him at various police stations.

Sukkur DIG Javed Sonharo Jiskani has appreciated the breakthrough achieved by the SSP and his subordinate officers and personnel. He announced cash rewards and appreciation certificates for them.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2023