LARKANA, April 15: The Larkana police claimed to have freed to kidnapped persons, Abdul Rahim Brohi and Muhammed Saleh Brohi, after an ‘hour long’ encounter with the bandits in the Sharifpur forest on Sunday.

The two had been kidnapped by bandits from the jurisdiction of Mahota police station. Larkana DPO Abdul Azim Tunio told journalists that when the police encircled the area near ‘Chur Pattan’ (a ferry point) it was fired upon by the bandits. Police retaliated and the encounter lasted almost an hour.

Police later located two handcuffed persons lying in the bushes, the DPO said.

They were identified as Abdul Rahim Brohi and Mohammad Saleh Brohi.

He further said that due to extensive firing, the bandits had escaped leaving behind the kidnapped victims.