MIANWALI, Aug 27: The police have claimed to get released two out of three people kidnapped for ransom from Isakhel three days ago. A statement issued by the district police officer (DPO) here on Monday said the police spotted the kidnappers in the Katcha area along River Indus when they were fleeing to tribal areas. The police cordoned off the area and got released two of the captives from the outlaws without paying any money.

Meher Zaman, a 55-year-old businessman, his son Samiullah, 18, and servant Javaid, also 18, were kidnapped from Isakhel when they were riding on their motorbikes to their hometown Khaglanwala, some three kilometres away from the tehsil headquarters. The kidnappers abandoned the captives’ bikes on Mianwali-Bannu Road and took them to Katcha area. Later, they demanded Rs2 million ransom through a cell phone for their release and threatened to kill the captives if the money was not provided within two days.

The police traced the outlaws’ hideout in the marshy areas alongside the river through cell phone signals. A police party led by DPO Malik Abdul Aziz Khan later surrounded the hideout. As a result, the outlaws released Samiullah and Javed.

However, Zaman was still in the kidnappers’ custody. The police were continuing the siege of the hideout to get the third captive released, the statement added.