SUKKUR: Dacoits shot dead two hostages and threw their bodies into Indus River near Ubauro town in Ghotki district on Monday after their families failed to pay them ransom before the deadline and buy their freedom.

Sources said that the dacoits had kidnapped Ahsan Farooq Rajput and Shehzad Ahmed Arain in Sadiqabad, Punjab, 13 days ago and held them hostage in Rojhan riverine area near Ubauro.

However, police officials claimed the deceased were hired for working on a ceiling in Rohjan area from where they were abducted by dacoits.

The kidnappers had demanded hefty amounts as ransom, which the families could not arrange and the dacoits subsequently killed the hostages, they said.

The officials said that they had found dead body of Rajput and were searching for Arain’s body. A case had been registered against Loond gang at Rohjan police station, they said.

Late Rajput’s funeral was held in Sadiqabad where the bereaved family demanded chief minister of Punjab to bring the killers to justice.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2024