SUKKUR: Fayyaz Solangi, a local journalist, who worked as Hingorja correspondent for KTN TV and Kawish newspaper, and whose `abduction` sparked protests in the upper region of Sindh a day ago, had faked his own kidnapping, according to police officials.

Khairpur Senior Superintendent of Police Tawheed Memon and Kashmore SSP Zubair Nazir Shaikh made the startling disclosure at a joint press conference in Khairpur on Sunday that police had recovered the journalist and arrested three of his accomplices after a late night operation in the riverine area of Kashmore.

Solangi had staged his own abduction to make a false case against his cousins, with whom he had a land dispute, said SSP Memon.

The officials said the journalist`s uncle, Mazhar Solangi, had also been arrested as he was `main character in the staged kidnapping.

They said that police had earlier arrested a suspect identified as Shah Dost soon after the video clip went viral on Friday showing the shirtless and chained journalist begging for his release.

Solnagi`s uncle had claimed receiving a phone call from `kidnappers, demanding Rs10 million ransom for the hostage`s release.

The SSPs said that the suspect Shah Dost had spilled the beans before investigators that the journalist had not been kidnapped but he had staged his own abduction to use it against his rival cousins.

Solangi confessed before media persons that he had staged his kidnapping to put pressure on his rivals and he was ashamed of it.

Police officials said that a case had been lodged against six suspects, including the journalist under relevant sections of law. Four suspects had been arrested and the remaining two would be nabbed soon, they said.

Journalist removed The KTN News Group issued a statement declaring that Solangi had been dismissed for faking his kidnapping and he had no longer any association with the organisation.