RAHIM YAR KHAN: Three labourers were allegedly kidnapped for ransom from the Katcha (riverine) area of the River Indus near Jamal Din Wali in Sadigabad tehsil on Monday night.

Police sources say that some labourers were asleep in a mango orchard owned by Makhdoom Saddar Uddin, in Mouza Iqbal Nagar area in the limits of Jamal Din Wali police check post of Bhong police station, when three of them were kidnapped by a gang of dacoits arriving there on motorcycles.

The areas along Indus riverbed are considered heaven for dacoits who are involved in kidnap for ransom and often challenge the writ of police.

To curb such criminalactivities in the area riverine police check posts have been set up in the area and a separate Bhong police circle was established.

According to a local, the mango orchard is owned by Makhdoom Saddar Uddin, Pir Sahib Pagara, who is a cousin of Pakistan People`s Party South Punjab president Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood.

A police spokesperson, Saif Ali Wains, told journalists that on the order of District Police Officer Muhammad Ali Zia an FIR has been registered at Bhong police station against the kidnappers.

He said Bhong Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and SHO were leading the investigation. A special team headed by investigation SP was also looking into the matter, he added.