LAKKI MARWAT: A custom official, who had been kidnapped from Haiderkhel area in North Waziristan district, was safely recovered from his captors on Wednesday night.

Bannu Regional Police Officer Imran Shahid told a press conference at his office on Thursday that on Oct 2, custom inspector Tufail Khan, who was deployed at Ghulam Khan border point, was kidnapped by a group of militants from Haidarhel area in Mirali town.

“The official was returning to his hometown after performing duty,” he said. He added that kidnappers took advantage of road blockade by tribesmen and took him away with them.

The RPO said that the kidnappers twice approached the family of Tufail Khan and demanded ransom amounting to Rs10 million and Rs15 million, respectively.

He said that close coordination among area police, Counter-Terrorism Department, security forces and intelligence agencies proved helpful to trace the hideout of the kidnappers.

He said that kidnappers were trying to shift the abducted official to an unspecified place when police and CTD commandos intercepted them in Khajori area of North Waziristan district.

He said that they left the kidnapped official after exchange of fire with police.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2024