SUKKUR, April 2: The nine persons, who were being held as hostages by the perpetrators of the Kashmor killings, have arrived at their homes after being released by their captors, the Inspector-General of Police, Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, and home secretary Syed Anwar Hyder said on Wednesday.

While speaking at a press conference here, they dispelled the impression that the use of army was being contemplated on the pattern of operation launched in 1992-93, saying that Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab police, along with paramilitary forces, were quite capable of eliminating crime not only from the area adjoining Jacobabad but also from other parts of Sindh.

Those, who had been released, were identified as Seth Ramchand, Gulab Rai, Santoo Ram, Mohammad Ramzan Kalwer, Imran Kalwer, Fida Hussain, Talib Hussain, and Mehboob Malik. The name of one person could not immediately be ascertained.

They said that the kidnap victims had been freed after the intervention of the police.

The IGP and the Sindh home secretary said that a high-level meeting, comprising senior officials from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, was held in Kashmor on Tuesday, which had decided on a two-pronged strategy.

Both the home secretary and the IGP said that the police was alive to the threat of terrorism, adding that a list of 34 criminals, would be handed over to the IGP, Balochistan, Dr Shoaib Suddle.

They said that the IGP, Balochistan, had assured the IGP, Sindh, regarding apprehending culprits of the Kashmor killings, who were believed to be hiding in the border area of Balochistan.

Home Secretary Syed Anwar Hyder said that the most of the outlaws in the list were from Balochistan while some of them belong to Sindh.

According to him these criminals routinely sneaked into their hideouts dotting the area after committing crimes.

Describing the Kashmor incident as being an act of terrorism, Mr Hyder and Mr Shah said that it was the outcome of tribal rivalry.

Mr Shah said that 15 persons had been killed in the Kashmor incident and eight or 10 persons were being treated in various hospitals, adding that all of them were out of danger.

He also dispelled the impression that the government of Balochistan was not cooperating in this regard.

Meanwhile, trade and shopping centres in Kashmor remained closed for the third consecutive day to mourn the killings.

Our Jacobabad Correspondent adds: The IGP, Sindh, while talking in Kashmor on Wednesday said a joint operation would soon be launched against the bandits.

He said that an investigation was under way regarding the Kashmor incident.

In a related development, businesses and shops in Kandhkot town remained shut to the deaths of the innocent people in Kashmor.