HYDERABAD, Jan 7: Police claimed to have arrested an important member of dacoits’ gang that had kidnapped Tando Allahyar EDO Health Dr Jalil Bachani although he has not yet been recovered despite lapse of over one and half month.

Ali Sher Loond, police said, was arrested from Tandojam police station jurisdiction as he was required in Dr. Bachani’s kidnapping and other heinous crimes. Police added that his arrest was the result of a spy information that he would pass through the area of Tandojam.

Subsequently, snap checking was ordered during the course of which police spotted a man with suspicious movements. He tried to flee while leaving behind his Kalashnikov. Police arrested him. One Kalashnikov and bag of rounds were seized from him. A case has been lodged with the Tandojam police.

Bachani is believed to be in captivity of Ali Bux Loond, who is the maternal uncle of Ali Sher Loond. A police source claimed that Loond has kidnapped the EDO and has communicated through his friend to the family that he needs Rs10 million and only then would he free Bachani.

Police were also reported to have arrested Tharo Khaskheli – the man who had talked to Bachani family – from Sakrand. “Yes Loond has been nabbed from Nawabshah district and had conceded that initially he was holding the hostage in his captivity and then handed him over to his uncle”, said a police source. There is no official confirmation regarding his arrest.

The source also added that Tharo Khaskehli was arrested on the other side of a canal when police conducted massive searches in Sakrand area. “Khaskheli also confirmed this fact that he was seeing police party searching areas on the other side of canal where he was holding the hostage”, said the source while adding that Khaskheli has not been shown arrested so far.

It was DPO Hyderabad’s information that police cordoned-off a major area for searches in Sakrand but couldn’t reach the dacoits and the hostage. Khaskheli has also confirmed that he had talked to hostage’s family for payment of ransom.

Bachani is brother of PPP leader Abdul Sattar Bachani. He was kidnapped on November 22 while he was returning to Tando Allahyar from a marriage ceremony along with his wife and driver. They were taken away in a truck but after covering some distance the driver and his wife were freed. A case of kidnapping is lodged with Husri police station, Hyderabad district.