LARKANA, April 16: The nephew of veteran communist writer-activist Soboho Gianchandani and his friend, who were kidnapped on March 24, were recovered on Saturday after an encounter near Markhiyani Pul, 15 km from Ratodero, police said. Dileep Kumar, sales manager in State Life Insurance Company, and Rafiq Chandio, a landlord, were kidnapped when they were going to Garhi Khairo.

The SP (investigation) of Larkana, Aijaz Tareen, said that on a tip off, police had cordoned off the area of Markiyani pul on the Shikarpur-Jacobabad road. Sensing the danger, kidnappers opened fire on police who returned the fire. After about a 30-minute encounter, the kidnapers left the kidnapped victims behind and fled.

The gang involved in the crime had been identified, the SP said but did not name gang leaders. He said local people, who hand links with criminals, were involved in the kidnapping and investigation was under way.