MIANWALI, Jan 29: The police have found that the kidnapping of a schoolchild, Bilal, was hatched by his uncle, Rafiq Ahmed. Bilal, the son of Yousaf Chobara, had gone missing on Jan 19 while going to school. It emerges now that Riaz, who is the cousin of Yousaf, along with Gul Riaz Khan kidnapped Bilal in a taxi. Rafiq took the boy to the hideout of Pervaiz, Saleem and Akhtar, all proclaim offenders.

Both accused dropped the boy there and came back in the taxi to their town. Taxi driver Muhammad Khan did not disclose the kidnapping to any one because the culprits had threatened him of consequences.

Muhammad Khan, the cousin of Yousaf, when came to know about the kidnapping, went to the outhouse of Rafiq on Jan 19 to ascertain the facts of kidnapping but Rafiq shot him dead.

The police arrested Rafiq, his father, Shah Jehan, and brother Nazir for the murder of Muhammad Khan.

During the investigation, Rafiq confessed to kidnapping Bilal.

Meantime, the proclaim offenders who had detained Bilal demanded Rs1.5 million ransom through Saleem, the brother of Rafiq. Sources said that Yousaf paid Rs0.7 million and secured the safe return of Bilal. The three proclaimed offenders were still at large.