SANGHAR, Sept 10: The police have arrested a gang of beggars to recover a boy who was kidnapped from railway colony Shahdadpur about 10 days ago.

Complainant Mohammed Sadiq Arain had lodged an FIR with Shahdadpur police station stating that his son Saifullah 7, went missing. Police arrested Ms Gulzaran alias Bilo, Ashiq Hussain, Mohammad Ibrahim and Ghulam Sarwar.

Another boy, Dilawar, 8, was recovered from their custody. He has an old fractured hand. Ms Gulzaran claimed that he was her son while the boy told Dawn at Shahdadpur police station that she was not his real mother.

He said that a few years ago, he was kidnapped from Karachi and then she broke his arm with a hammer.

He said he along with other children like him, were placed at certain places and the passers-by having pity on them, gave alms which was collected by her.

He alleged that there were several children, boys and girls at Karachi and other places and Saifullah was also sold at Karachi to a gang leader of beggars.

The Shahdadpur police are planning to raid secret centres of the gangs to recover the kidnapped boy. SHO Ramzan Rahu said that they cannot disclose strategy for the safety of the boy.