LANDIKOTAL: Police officials said on Thursday said that trader kidnapped from Landikotal on August 7, safely recovered after 34 days in abductors captivity from a mountain cave in the Sadokhel area, while 17 suspects have been arrested and raids are under way to apprehend three key suspects, including the alleged mastermind. District Police Officer Khyber Waqar Ahmed, along with Landikotal SHO Adnan Afridi told a press conference here in Landikotal that police have recovered trader Haji Muhammad Zarif Shinwari alias Linday that the trader was rescued during a joint operation involving police and Frontier Corps personnel. Ashrafuddin Pirzada
According to the DPO, Haji Zarif was kidnapped near Landikotal Bazaar on August 7. Police launched an investigation immediately and continued efforts to trace the kidnappers using technical and scientific methods.
Waqar Ahmed said information obtained during the interrogation of suspects led police to the kidnappers’ hideout. After nearly a month of investigation and verification, police reached a cave in the mountainous Sadokhel area last night and recovered the trader safely.
He said 17 suspects had so far been arrested in connection with the kidnapping case, while several raids had been conducted in different areas. However, none of the kidnappers was present at the cave when police recovered the hostage.
The DPO said the kidnappers had allegedly demanded $300,000 in ransom for the trader’s release. A ransom call made from the hostage’s mobile phone helped police trace the case and identify leads to the kidnapping network,he said.
Waqar Ahmed said Frontier Corps, Khyber Rifles, FIA, CTD and other state institutions assisted police in the investigation and recovery operation.
He added that raids were continuing at different locations to arrest three key suspects, including the alleged mastermind Ahmad Shinwari and vowed that no one involved in the kidnapping would be allowed to escape justice.
The DPO praised SHO Adnan Afridi and other police personnel for their day-and-night efforts, said the successful recovery was the result of sustained investigation and coordinated efforts by law-enforcement agencies.
He said protection of citizens’ lives and property remained the police’s top priority and that action against criminal elements would continue.
