SUKKUR: The Sukkur police on Friday revealed a version totally different from the reports carried by the media about the Saturday night abduction of folk singer Jigar Jalal and five members of his band.

The version came in a press conference by Additional Inspector General (AIG) Dr Jameel Ahmed late on Thursday evening, a few hours after the victims were set free by the kidnappers.

The media reports had suggested that some people belonging to the Teghani community resorted to taking Jigar Jalal Chandio and his band — comprising his son Aftab, nephew Ameer Ali, Syed Shabbir Shah and musician Ustad Lateef Tunio, along with the car by which they travelled to the riverine area of Kandhkot and the driver, Bahadur Khuhawar — deep into the outlaws-infested area. A few hours later, it transpired that the band and driver were held hostage by a gang of outlaws. It was also stated by local people that the treatment was meted out to the singer and his band by their hosts for arriving late to perform at a wedding function and violating a business deal between them by not bringing female dancers.

The next day a police party led by DSP Rao Shafiullah was sent to the area to recover the hostages but the police officer was martyred and one of his subordinates, Constable Babar, was wounded in an encounter with outlaws.

AIG rejects reports of ‘deal’ with outlaws

AIG Dr Jameel Ahmed produced the freed band before a team of media personnel in his office as soon as the victims were set free late on Thursday evening. He told the media that Jigar Jalal and all his companions were kidnapped by outlaws as soon as they arrived in Karampur by a car driven by Bahadur Khuhawar. He said police swiftly moved into action for their recovery and in the ensuing operation against the kidnappers, Khanpur DSP Shafiullah lost his life.

Piqued by an electronic media report suggesting that the outlaws set free the band under a “deal struck between police and outlaws”, the AIG categorically stated that no such deal was resorted to.

Accompanied by Kandhkot-Kashmore SSP Syed Asad Raza Shah at the press conference, AIG Dr Ahmed explained that Ghulam Sarwar Shar, the organiser of a function in the Kandhkot area, had invited Jigar Jalal and his band to perform in the event before Eidul Azha but Aug 18 was decided for the programme under mutual understanding. On that day, the band arrived at around 5pm at the Karampur venue, where host Ghulam Sarwar Shar riding a bike also arrived to receive them. He led the band, riding a car, into the riverine area but all members of the band were kidnapped by a gang of three outlaws carrying Kalash­nikov rifles and their three accomplices carrying clubs.

The AIG further revealed that the outlaws immediately released Syed Shabbir Shah when Jigar Jalal told them that he belonged to the Syed community and deserved to be respected.

The police officer said that the hostages were ordered to abandon the car. Then they were escorted to a hideout. The hostages walked for three to four hours to reach the hideout, he said. The area, which was later identified by the freed kidnap victims and members of the police team that had engaged the outlaws in an encounter, fell within the limits of the Naparkot police, he added.

He disclosed that the team led by the martyred DSP which also included the Karampur SHO, had reached very close to the hideout but had to move back due to certain compulsions; the team was attacked on their way back.

According to the AIG, following the tragic incident, the outlaws were given a 24-hour ultimatum to set free the hostages. “After the deadline passed without any response from them, the hostages were freed in an operation within the next six hours,” he added.

He insisted that the outlaws had to release the hostages under immense pressure from police, saner elements of the area and the media. Rejecting claims about a deal, he said the outlaws would not be spared.

Jigar Jalal endorsed the police officers’ version. In reply to a question, he said he and his companions were not tortured by the kidnappers. Rather, he said, they demonstrated Sindh’s traditional hospitality.

Regarding unchecked activities of the gangs of outlaws in the area, he claimed that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) activists were hand in glove with these outlaws and they were also providing sophisticated weapons to the gangs. He said such supplies were routed via Balochistan from Afghanistan.

SSP Raza said the media could visit the Karampur riverine area to see signs of the battle that had taken place there for the recovery of the hostages.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2019