MIANWALI, May 1: Four masked men kidnapped a factory owner of Wan-Bhachran for ransom on Wednesday evening in Chidroo area, some 15 kilometers from here.

Reports said Nur Zaman, owner of an ice cream factory, along with his driver Muhammad Ijaz had gone to Chidroo area to collect payments from shopkeepers by his van. On his return, the masked men armed with Kalashnikovs intercepted their vehicle on Musakhel-Wan-Bhachran Road and snatched cash and a mobile phone from them. They later drove them to Chidroo’s mountains.

The kidnappers released the driver with a message for the family of Zaman to arrange Rs1 million ransom. They also threatened to kill the trader if the police were informed about the incident. About the terms of payment, the kidnappers told the driver that they would inform the family on telephone.

Musakhel SHO Rana Ghulam Hussain said they had received no complaint about the kidnapping, but he did admit that they were aware of the crime. He said police could not take action on its own.

Muhammad Zaman, younger brother of the kidnapped trader, confessed they had avoided reporting the matter to police only for the safety of his brother.

He said talks were going on with the kidnapers through a cell phone and they were hopeful about the release of Nur Zaman after paying ‘some’ ransom.