KHAIRPUR, Feb 2: One bus passenger was kidnapped while several others were deprived of cash, mobile phones and other valuables by a group of six bandits near Khabri bus stop Gambat taluka late on Friday evening.

The bandits, hiding in a nearby field, stopped the bus and overpowered the driver, conductor and six passengers.

The armed men also kidnapped a passenger identified as Abdul Sattar, son of Mohammad Siddiqui Badani, who is said to be a clerk in Roads and Works department of Khairpur.

The bandits fled towards katcha area.

The DPO Khairpur, Fida Hussain Mastoi, reached the place and initiated a search operation with the help of footprints of kidnappers along with police contingent and relatives of kidnapped man.

Booked: Three PPP workers, arrested by Ranipur police from Daraza Sharif, have been booked in three different cases.

The workers, Mian Naeem, Mian Naveed and Hyder Ali, were picked up late on Friday evening.

Reports said that tension was running high between PPP and PML-F workers after a clash.