CHAGAI: Two people were killed and 25 Afghan abductees were recovered after a heavy exchange of fire between two groups late on Friday night in the Nokkundi area of Chagai district.

According to Levies Force officials, the exchange of fire occurred when an armed group attacked a house in the Maghribi bazaar area where the kidnapped people were kept in a room for a few weeks.

A Levies Force officer, on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the attackers took one of their colleagues’ body and left the crime scene before the Levies Force arrived.

He said the body of another abductor and the 25 abductees were found in the house.

The body of the deceased — who was identified as Atif Ali — was handed over to his heirs.

Sources said some criminal groups were kidnapping Afghan citizens, who tried to enter Iran illegally, for ransom.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2020