RAHIM YAR KHAN: A gang of dacoits allegedly kidnapped three persons in Kacha area (in the bed of River Indus) near Ghgri Bagh in the limits of Bhong town, some 54kms from here, on Tuesday night.

Sajid Dashti told Dawn that his five relatives Shabbir Jan, Irfan, Rashid Ali, Shahid and Rafiq were going for recovery of payments for pesticides on two motorcycles when they were intercepted by a gang of more than 12 dacoits near Ghagri Bagh.

He said the dacoits kidnapped three of them Rashid, Shahid and Rafiq and also took away their motorcycle, while Shabbir and Irfan managed to escape.

He said he immediately reported the matter to the Bhong police station, but the on-duty staf f refused to help him, saying that the station house of ficer was in Bahawalpur.

Later in the night, hesaid, the Sadigabad deputy superintendent of police arrived there and launched a search in Kacha area.

During the search, he said, only the bike of the kidnapped men was found in a sugarcane field.

Sajid said so far the police had only registered a report of the incident and no first information report (FIR) had been lodged.

He said now he, his relatives and other locals were looking for the kidnapped persons on their own because the police were not helping them.

However, he said a local tribal elder, Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari, had assured them of his help in the recovery of the kidnapped persons.

Sajid said he did not receive any call from the kidnappers for ransom, so far.

Police spokesperson Zeeshan Randhawa claimed that the police searched the Katcha area from 10pm to 4am but of no avail.

He said District Police Officer Athar Waheed would visit the area to review the law and order situation on Thursday (today).