LAKKI MARWAT: Nine workers of a construction company who had been kidnapped from Bittani tribal subdivision of Lakki Marwat district a week ago were freed from captors, claimed district police officer Tariq Habib here on Monday.

On Jan 8, a group of armed men had kidnapped 10 workers of a construction company near Hasankhel area in the limits of Azadkhel police station.

The workers were on their way to the site of Tajori-Shadikhel road project when unknown armed men intercepted their vehicle at gunpoint and took them away.

The abductors later released one of the workers the same day keeping in view his poor health and shifted the remaining workers to an undisclosed location.

The district police officer told Dawn that after the incident he along with a large contingent of police reached the area and launched efforts to secure the safe release of kidnapped workers.

He said the police also sought help from the army and engaged tribal elders, besides tightening noose around the facilitators of kidnappers and anti-social elements in the tribal region so as to free the abducted men from the captors.

He claimed that the pressure exerted on kidnappers from different sections forced them to free all the abducted workers.