Kidnappers killed businessman as he tried to escape, claim police

HYDERABAD: A businessman kidnapped from Hyderabad has been killed in a police operation in Shikarpur. Police have also claimed killing a bandit in the operation.

A JIT had been formed by Hyderabad SSP Dr Farrukh Lanjar for the recovery of businessman Hasan Nasir Nizamani who was kidnapped on October 11 from the limits of Rahuki police station in Hyderabad.

On the instructions of Hyderabad DIG Tariq Dharejo, a Hyderabad police party headed by SHO Naik Muhammad Khoso and SHO Maqsood Manganhar and other members of the JIT reached the Kacha area of Dakkan in Shikarpur district to recover the hostage where they had an encounter with the bandits.

In a press release issued on Friday, the Hyderabad SSP had stated that the Hyderabad, Larkana, Dadu and Shikarpur districts’ police conducted a joint operation to recover the hostage from Shikarpur.

He said the police operation was conducted and led by Khairpur SSP Mir Rohail Khoso and Dadu SSP Amir Saoud Magsi.

A spokesperson for the Hyderabad SSP said that all the departmental resources were used to recover the hostage. By obtaining information from locals along with digital evidence, the vehicle used in kidnapping was recovered and the driver arrested.

On the identification of the arrested driver, the Hyderabad, Larkana, Dadu and Shikarpur police launched an operation in the Dakkan Kacha area of Shikarpur.

During the encounter, a bandit, Ijaz Babur, was killed, but unfortunately the kidnapped businessman was also killed due to bullets injuries.

Nizamani’s body was shifted to the Ratodero Hospital in the late night hours. The slain businessman was a permanent resident of Tando Qaiser and for some years he was residing in Tando Jam.

On October 11, he was abducted from Tando Jam when he had gone to visit a mango orchard in Rahoki.

The case of abduction was registered on October 12 at the Rahoki police station, following which the Hyderabad SSP formed a JIT headed by Tando Jam DSP Asadullah Chana. Market SHO Munir Abbasi, Tando Jam SHO Aslam Bilu, A Section SHO Naik Mohammad Koso and Rahoki SHO Farhanuddin Memon were appointed as other members of the JIT.

According to police sources, the bandits had demanded Rs15 million from the family of the kidnapped businessman for his release.

The investigators later traced the ransom call to the Kacha area of Dakkan.

After the Hyderabad police were criticised on social media for the death of the hostage, a spokesperson for the Hyderabad SSP on Saturday issued a clarification statement and told the media that the allegations being levelled against the Hyderabad police on social media were baseless.

According to the spokesperson, the hostage tried to escape from the clutches of the kidnappers during the joint operation, upon which they shot him dead.

The SSP’s spokesperson said the police fought the bandits without regard for their lives and their efforts and bravery had been appreciated.

He said some elements were trying to discourage the police by making baseless allegations and stating that there were no casualties on part of the police.

According to the spokesman, the Sindh police shared the grief of the bereaved family and reiterates its determination for arresting all the kidnappers.