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LORALAI: The 15 passengers, who had been abducted about two weeks ago in Loralai area, have been recovered from Ziarat area of Balochistan.

The recovery took place after an operation in the area by the law enforcing agencies. Kidnapped passengers of Loralai were got released from their captives in Uch Wani area near Chauteer in District Ziarat Sunday afternoon.

Details

Details say, a group of armed desperados had hijacked a coach from Dera Ghazi Khan to Loralai near Mekhtar on February 27. They burst tyres of the coach and kidnapped its' passengers including women and took them to unknown destination.

Levies and Frontier Corps troops chased the kidnappers and surrounded them near Chauteer area of Ziarat District.

On Sunday afternoon, kidnappers exchanged fire with the law enforcers who were surrounding them and set free the hostages. Later they dispersed in small groups but took positions again after some distance. Levies and FC troops continued to surround them in the area.

Backdrop

Law Enforcement Agencies got released 15 passengers of a coach on Sunday, who were kidnapped by dacoits on February 27 for ransom. They were released after heavy exchange of fire with the kidnappers in Pui area in Loralai district.

The passenger bus was on its way from Dera Ghazi Khan to Loralai when the dacoits intercepted it and kidnapped its passengers including women and children.

The earlier report put the number of the hostages as 12, but they were found
fifteen in number.

Unharmed

Officials told 'Pakistan Times' Sunday that all the freed passengers were unharmed. They had been brought to Loralai from Pui on Lorlai-Sinjawi-Ziarat road where they had been kept.

All were medically examined in Civil Hospital Loralrali and found in good health.

Chief Minister Jam Mohamed Yousuf had given the authorities strict orders to secure release of the bus passengers without further delay.

Director Levies Headquarters Captain (R) Akbar Durrai and Director Levies Operation Akbar Lashari had set up camp in the area along with heavy force and cordoned of the entire area plugging all exit points and launched massive search. Frontier Corps troops were also deployed to assist the Levies in the operation.

No Arrest

No arrest had been reported as yet and operation to arrest the culprits was in progress, the officials said.

The Passengers

The released passengers included three women, four children and eight men. They were: Mst Zahoor Bibi, Mst Shamshad Bibi, Mr. and Mrs. Noor Hassan Shahzad and their three children whose name could not be known, Nazim, Tariq, Mohammed Bux, Haji Jawed, Hidayetullah, Shahbaz and Younus Shirzi and a boy Usman.