Two cops among three held in kidnapping for ransom case

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In yet another case of policemen getting involved in criminal activities instead of fighting crime, two cops were arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping a man for ransom.

The arrests were made by the Steel Town police of District Malir. The arrested cops have been identified as Rafiq and Younus, while a third suspect is a civilian. They have been accused of abducting a trader and demanding money to release him. Cases have been registered against them.

District Malir police chief SSP Tariq Mastoi said the arrested suspects, including two police officers, had kidnapped a civilian and extorted a ransom of Rs1.9 million from his family. The Steel Town police carried out the operation and arrested all the three suspects, said SSP Mastoi, adding that the suspects had kidnapped a trader named Murtaza Ehtisham Baig.

The officer said the suspects claimed to be associated with a secret agency as they demanded a ransom of Rs2.95 million from the victim’s family, adding that the suspects brought the victim near the Malir Cantonment and collected Rs1.9 million before releasing him.

Two of the suspects are police constables and one is a civilian. Suspect Rafiq is posted at the Garden Headquarters and suspect Younus is posted at the Kalakot police station, while the third suspect is an informer.

The arrest of the three suspects led to the recovery of a car, weapons and cash. A search is under way to arrest Head Constable Sarfaraz posted at the Gadap police station and two of his accomplices, namely Shahjahan and Sheraz.(TIN)