GUJRAT, Aug 13: A housewife kidnapped from a Kharian village on Wednesday night by 10 gunmen won freedom after 24 hours (on Thursday night) after her influential family paid Rs 1.5million in ransom.

Intelligence and police sources told Dawn on Friday that victim 'R' was present at the residence of her brother-in-law in Haqiqa village. At about 10pm, ten armed men rang the bell and entered the house when a minor boy opened the main door. In the meanwhile, the entire area plunged into darkness thanks to unscheduled load shedding by Gepco.

At that time, a son (of the kidnap victim) and two gunmen were present on the rooftop from where they opened fire on the intruders. The latter retaliated and the crossfire continued for more than 15 minutes.

When the house guards ran short of their ammunition, the outlaws held the entire family hostage. Later, the picked up 'R' and left the house. After reaching a shrine in nearby Kolian Habib village, they contacted the family through the phone of the victim and demanded Rs3 million ransom.

Sources said the outlaws set free the woman after 24 hours when they received Rs1.5 million in cash. The victim is niece of two senior bureaucrats. Moharrar Zahoor of Kharian Sadar police station said that police had sealed the FIR.

He denied reports that victim's family had paid any ransom. "They released the woman after a heavy contingent of police led by DPO Raja Munawar and Kharian DSP Raja Riaz started chasing them," he claimed.

He said that several police parties were still chasing the outlaws. Sources were not sure whether the intruders were dacoits or enemies of the family since the aggrieved did not name any suspect.

Sources said the family did have some rivalries because of its active involvement in local politics. They said the same residence had come under firing from some unknown people six months ago.