SUKKUR, April 28: Work on a survey undertaken by the Oil and Gas Development Corporation came to a halt on Thursday following the killing of a tribesman on Wednesday. Sources said a Lakhan tribesman, Ghulam Nabi Lakhan, was working in the fields when he was allegedly shot dead by people belonging to Sundrani tribe in the katcha area of Ghotki district.

A large number of tribesmen belonging to these tribes worked as contract labourer with the OGDC.

Rustam Lakhan, brother of the deceased, has filed an FIR at the Andal Sundrani police station against five people, including Sanaullah, Sattar Dino, Abdul Ghaffar and Ghanwar. All of them belonged to Sundrani tribe. No arrest has so far been made in the case.

The sources said both tribes had been at daggers drawn for the past 15 years. It is said that about 15 years back a tribesman Bullan Lakhan was murdered and a case was registered against two Sundrani tribesmen Lal Bux and Abdul Wahab Sundrani, who were later awarded death sentence. Since then tension prevailed between two tribes and according to the sources, Wednesday’s murder was the result of that enmity.

RECOVERED: Two Hindu traders, Gobind Ram and Sat Ram, who were kidnapped on April 12, were recovered by police on Thursday after an encounter with kidnappers in the Yaroo Lund area of Ghotki.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Range Police Officer of Sukkur, Niaz Siddiqui said five people, including Sikandar Zaman Lund, Abdul Razzaq Malik, Khamiso Shar, Khuda Bux Shar and Nizam Shar, had been arrested.

Both abductees were also produced before newsmen who claimed that no ransom had been paid to kidnappers for their release.

Mr Siddiqui said police had arrested two most-wanted outlaws, Khamiso Shar and Nizam Shar, last week. During interrogation, they admitted being involved in the kidnapping of Hindu traders, and said hostages were being kept at a place in Yaroo Lund.

A police party was constituted which raided village Soomar Mori in Yaroo Lund and recovered both hostages, who were kept in chains in the house of Khuda Bux Malik.

However, sources said an influential person of the area played a vital role in the recovery of Hindu traders after he was approached by police three days back.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC UPLIFT: Adviser to Sindh chief minister Nusrat Aziz on Thursday directed government officials to work hard with missionary zeal and ensure improvement of socio-economic conditions of the masses.

Speaking at a meeting of municipal officers at circuit house here, he urged them to serve people without any discrimination because they were taxpayers who helped the country run efficiently.

Mr Aziz asked officers to accord top priority to the supply of safe drinking water to people improve sewerage system and repair street lights.

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