KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) on Sunday claimed to have recovered a kidnapped trader and arrested two suspected abductors.

According to a spokesperson for the paramilitary force, acting on a tip-off, the Rangers and AVCC conducted a raid in PIB Colony and arrested two suspects Sajjad Usman alias Babu and Hadad Ahmed. A 4x4 vehicle bearing a fake number plate, along with mobile phones, was recovered from their custody.

The spokesperson added that the suspects had allegedly kidnapped the trader from Azizabad on Feb 17 at gunpoint and taken him away in a vehicle displaying a fake government numberplate, as seen in CCTV footage.

After the abduction, the suspects allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs10 million from the trader`s family using international phone numbers and threatened them with consequences in case of non-payment. An FIR in this regard was registered at the Azizabad police station.

The Rangers and AVCC, utilising technological assistance, recovered the trader safely from Gulshan-iIqbal. The suspects, however, resorted to firing and fled towards PIB Colony, where they were later arrested, the spokesperson said, adding that raids were underway to arrest their accomplices.

The held suspects, along with the seized vehicle, were handed over to the police for further legal action, the spokesperson added.