LOWER DIR: Police here on Thursday claimed to have arrested three abductors for kidnapping a young man for ransom a few days ago.

Briefing journalists, SP Rashid Ahmad said that 23-year-old Sajid, a resident of Stanadar Balambat, went missing and police were tasked to trace him. He said police traced the abductors through modern technology.

He said that police arrested Aman Bahadar, who not only confessed to the crime but also pinpointed his accomplices. He said that two other accused belonging to Mardan were also arrested. Police also recovered the car and arms used in the crime.

The official said that Sajid’s brother used to send millions of rupees from abroad to him and the accused wanted to get the money. He said that they called him at night by telephone for his account verification to Chakdara Scouts Fort. He said that the accused, posing as special branch police, kidnapped him for ransom at gunpoint and took him to Peshawar.

Balambat police also arrested two drug sellers identified as Sardar Ali and Mohammad Ayaz and recovered 1,392 grams of charas from their possession.

Meanwhile, Lal Qila police during a search operation arrested proclaimed offender Bahadar Gul. He was wanted by police in a double murder case since 2006.

SHOPS: Additional Assistant Commissioner Samarbagh Mohammad Younus sealed the under-construction shops on government land near Samarbagh Hospital.

Notices were already issued to the shopkeepers to remove the encroachments within three days. The administration sealed the shops after getting their possession with the help of police, Dir Levies and tehsil municipal administration.

JI: Jamaat-i-Islami Bajaur former chief Sardar Khan has asked federal government to fulfil its promise made during the merger of former tribal districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a news conference at Timergara Press Club on Thursday, he said that government had promised to provide merged districts with three per cent share in National Finance Commission award, appoint 30,000 youth in police, allocate Rs100 billion annually to those districts and establish a university and a medical college in each tribal district.

He demanded of the government to fulfil its promises to end deprivation among tribesmen.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2024