LANDIKOTAL
Two girls who had travelled from Landikotal to Jamrud with their parents were allegedly abducted from Jamrud Bazaar after their father was reportedly lured by an unidentified caller posing as a Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) official, police said on Wednesday.
According to SHO Jamrud Police Station Sadiq Khan, the affected person identified as Khuga Jan Afridi, a resident of Bazar Zakhakhel in Landikotal received a phone call from an unknown person who claimed to be a BISP official and asked him to visit the BISP office to collect his payment.
The SHO said Khuga Jan travelled to Jamrud along with his two daughters, aged 15 and eight and was allegedly instructed by the caller to leave the girls at the women’s waiting area in front of the Jamrud tehsil compound while he went to the BISP office in Bara.
“When the father reached the BISP office, the caller’s phone was switched off,” the SHO said. Khuga Jan then returned to Jamrud Bazaar but could not find his daughters,he said.
Khuga Jan Afridi told police that some unidentified persons had taken the girls away and disappeared.
SHO Sadiq Khan said police had registered an FIR and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from cameras installed around the incident site was being examined, while efforts were also under way to trace the mobile phone number used by the alleged abductors.
Police officer Shahab told The News that the statements of the girls’ parents had been recorded and the investigation was continuing.
The incident comes amid growing law-and-order concerns in Khyber district. A local trader, Muhammad Zarif Shinwari has also remained missing after his reported abduction from Landikotal, triggering prolonged protests and a sit-in by traders and residents.
The incidents have added to concerns over the deteriorating security situation and growing fear among residents and the business community in the district.
