GHOTKI: Sindh Police are reported to have recovered nine persons, belonging to a ‘dhol & dance group’ who were abducted by a gang of dacoits few days back.
The group, hailing from Punjab’s Chiniot, performs during wedding parties. In February this year, the dacoits trapped the dance group by booking them for a programme. As the group reached Rahim Yar Khan from Chiniot, their phones went silent and did not respond.
Media outlets had received an audio clip of a phone call between dacoits and families of the abductees. The dacoits had demanded Rs 10 million as ransom money immediately in return of the abductees’ release.
“Nine abductees recovered from Andal Sundrani in katcha area were residents of Chinniot and members of a dhol players group,” police said. “They were called on the pretext of performing in a wedding function in Ghotki 23 days ago and taken as hostage,” local officials said.
“The abductors had demanded heavy ransom for release of the hostages,” according to the police spokesman.
After an exchange of fire, the gang of bandits escaped from the scene leaving hostages behind, said a police officer.
The riverine forests in Sindh and southern belt of Punjab have historically remained a hotbed of bandit gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and other crimes on both banks of the Indus River.
These areas are inaccessible and virtually a ‘no go area’ for police and other law enforcement agencies. So as, remain an ideal refuge for the fugitives and bandit gangs operating in the region.
