GUJRAT: Police on Monday arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) on charge of leading a gang involved in kidnap for ransom and drug peddling.

Police recovered Rs2.5 million ransom amount and were now after his five accomplices, including a policeman.

Addressing a press conference, District Police Officer Sohail Zafar Chatha said ASI Shoaib Shah, the in-charge of Shahdaula check post, had kidnapped two people, Muhammad Yousaf of Layyah and Muhammad Asif of Sahiwal, and sought Rs6 million ransom for their release.

Their families paid him Rs2.5m and were arranging remaining amount when one of the abducted men managed to escape from captivity and contacted the police.

On the information provided by him, the Civil Lines police arrested ASI Shoaib, raided a house in Shadman Colony and recovered the second abductee as well as the ransom amount.

Police also recovered 10kg hashish and a Kalashnikov from the house. They registered three different cases against him and five of his accomplices who were still at large. The DPO also initiated a departmental inquiry against the ASI.