LARKANA, Aug 26: Shar and Chachar tribes on Sunday freed more than 20 people they had taken hostage a day ago in a tit-for-tat move triggered by the reports of a Chachar woman’s marriage with a Shar man.

The DPO of Ghotki, Aftab Ahmed Halipoto, succeeded in persuading the two warring tribes to free the hostages who were then brought to the office of TPO of Wasti Jeewan Shah.

The hostages were then handed over to the two tribes’ chiefs, Abdul Rehman Chachar and Ahmed Yar Shar, in the DPO’s presence.

The revenge hostage taking started with the reported court marriage of Ms Arbab Khatoon Chachar with Akbar Shar. Chachars alleged Ms Khatoon was kidnapped by Shars 10 days ago and lodged an FIR against Akbar Shar at Wasti Jeewan Shah police station.

Armed Chahchars took eight persons of the rival clan hostage on Saturday triggering a war of tit-for-tat hostage taking with Shars kidnapping their seven persons the same day. The number rose to 20 by the night.

Chieftain of Shar tribe, Ahmed Yar Shar, meanwhile, handed over Akbar Shar and Arbab Khatoon Chachar to Deen Mohammed Mazari, TPO of Wasti Jeewan Shah.

The couple were still in custody and the police would produce them in the court of judicial magistrate of Ubauro on Monday to ascertain if Ms Khatoon wanted to live with Akbar Shar of her own will or go with her parents.

In another development, police registered a case of kidnapping of Marvi and Jeejal Shar on the complaint of Ali Gul Shar against 13 unknown people belonging to Chachar tribe.