QUETTA, Feb 4: Agencies investigating the kidnapping of UNHCR official John Solecki have so far remained unsuccessful in finding any clue to his whereabouts.

The Balochistan government, however, announced a reward of Rs1 million for information about the UN official. Mr Solecki was kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Chaman Housing Society area on Monday.

“The name of the person who will provide information would not be disclosed,” an official announcement said here on Wednesday.

Police have arrested over thirty suspects after raids on different areas of the provincial capital and some other places.

“Suspects belong to criminal gangs,” a senior police officer involved in the investigation said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for Mr Solecki’s kidnapping.

According to sources, five teams comprising personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies have been constituted to investigate the kidnapping.

They said the investigators had so far not established who was involved in the kidnapping.

The sources said the federal government had directed the provincial government to provide maximum security to all foreigners working at different projects in Balochistan.

The provincial government has already tightened security for foreigners and UN institutions.

Police and personnel of Frontier Corps had been deployed at all entry and exit points of Quetta and areas on the border with Afghanistan.

REHMAN’S ASSURANCE: In Islamabad, the prime minister’s adviser, Rehman Malik, assured the United Nations on Wednesday that hectic efforts were under way for recovering Mr Solecki.