THATTA: A grade-18 official of the fisheries department was kidnapped and held hostage for 15 hours before being released on Tuesday, allegedly under a deal between his kidnappers and Dhabeji police.

The outlaws, operating in the Bhanbore Creek area, forced the authorities concerned to promise release of six fishermen arrested a few days ago for using banned nets.

There were different accounts of what had actually happened with the victim, Aslam Ansari, the deputy director in the fisheries department, who returned to Thatta after narrating his ordeal to officials at the Dhabeji police station in the afternoon.

According to Mr Ansari, he along with his team conducted a raid on a specified place near the Qureshi Salt area along Bhanbore Creek to seize the Bullo and Gujjo fishing nets as part of the department`s campaign against illegal juvenile fish catch.

He said that some armed outlaws patronising the illegal practice and the local offenders caught him while resisting seizure of the nets. He said hehad been taken to the Rehri area of Karachi at gunpoint and kept in illegal confinement there. He claimed that he somehow managed to escape from their captivity.

However, sources in the department and fisheries circles insisted that Mr Ansari`s release was secured by Dhabeji police under a deal. They claimed that the police promised release of the six offenders as demanded by the outlaws.

They said fisheries director general Ghulam Mohammed Mehar and some other senior officials had been in contact with Mr Ansari, but the latter declined to share any details with the media. The fisheries department also undertook not to arrest more offenders of the rule concerning the banned nets, the sources claimed.

Protesting against the alleged deal, Sindh Mallah Ittehad Tehreek chairman Adam Gandhro and his associate, Ali Hussain Parheri, leading a delegation called on Thatta SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi and urged him not to show any leniency to the offenders and their patrons. They also expressed their concern over the possible release of the six offenders.

The SSP issued directives to Dhabeji police not to release them and if they had already been let off, to arrest them again.Meanwhile, Gharo DSP Iqbal Jumani and Dhabeji SHO Misri Khan Khoso have started an investigation into the whole affair after recording statement of Mr Ansari and some other people. He also asked the police to arrest the suspects` patrons and book them for kidnapping the senior fisheries official and keeping him in illegal confinement.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) president Syed Mohammed Ali Shah condemned the official`s kidnapping and his release under an alleged deal.

In a statement, he noted that some influential stakeholders of fishing in Thatta district seemed to have dominated the region and become strong enough to dictate their terms to the authorities.

He said that by patronising the users of the banned nets, they were causing destruction of the marine resources.

Mr Shah claimed that such influential outlaws had made certain fishing zones of the coastal region `no-go areas` for most fishermen.

He urged the authorities concerned to take measures for establishing government`s writ in the region and ensure protection for the fishermen community`s livelihood.

He also demanded strict implementation of all rules and regulations concerning fishing.