LARKANA, Oct 10: Five armed men barged into a house on the outskirts of the city late Thursday night and kidnapped a woman who is mother of an eight-month-old child.

Six years ago Nooruddain Solangi had given his four-year-old daughter Razia’s hand to Punhal Jatoi, a resident of Dhingano Jatoi village, to settle a monetary dispute related to gambling, family sources said. Razia was supposed to marry Fattan, son of Punhal, they said.

Three months ago Razia left her house and on court’s orders sought refuge in Darul Aman, Larkana, where she had been staying till date, they said.

According to sources, Punhal and his relatives had constantly been issuing threats to Riaz Shaikh to pressurize his relative Nooruddain Solangi to hand over Razia to them.

“We are not concerned with the matter,” Riaz said, “but the Jatois did not believe it.”

Late Thursday night, armed men of the Jatoi community attacked Riaz’s house, overpowered the inmates and kidnapped his wife Salma, sources said.

In jubilation the abductors resorted to aerial firing, they added. Riaz has lodged an FIR against Punhal, his brother Manzoor, and three unidentified persons for attacking his house and kidnapping Salma Shaikh.

Police have been investigating but so far have not succeeded in tracing out the culprits.

Relatives of the kidnapped woman, including women and children, protesting against the incident took to the streets and blocked Jinnah Bagh chowk on Friday. They burnt tyres and staged a sit-in.