KOHAT: Two youth drowned in the Lachi and Kohat dams on Saturday, raising the toll to four during this week.

Rescue 1122 retrieved a body, which was identified as that of Mohammad Zeeshan, 18, from Shahpur dam after hectic efforts of three hours. He was a resident of Sorgul village.

The second body was recovered from Ghurzandi dam in Lachi tehsil. The deceased was identified as Attaur Rehman, 17.

Earlier, two youngsters had lost their lives in the River Indus in the Kamar area.

For two days, their bodies could not be found, after which divers were called from Peshawar, who also failed to recover them, after which the operation was called off. Nobody from the area who had seen them drowning knew them.

Meanwhile, the police arrested four suspected extortionists, who were demanding Rs100 million from the businessmen of the main bazaar, and were planning to shift the money to their partner in South Africa through hundi/havala.

While addressing a press conference, DSP city Hafeez Khan said that the traders had received calls from anonymous numbers on May 5 and May 10.

He said that the extortionists were threatening the traders with severe consequences of life and property if they did not pay the money.

The businessmen brought the case to the attention of district police officer Dr Zahidullah Khan, who assigned the task of arresting the criminals to DSP Hafeez Khan and SHO Fayyaz Khan.

The police officer said they traced the extortionists through modern technology, who were held along with fake registered phone SIMs, and mobile phones.

The extortionists were identified as Mohammad Kamran, Saeed alias Gul from Kohat district, Shah Nawaz from Hangu district, and Ameen Hussain, a resident of Orakzai district.

DSP Hafeez Khan said that the police booked them under section 387 of Pakistan Penal Code and launched further investigations.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2025