FAISALABAD: A group of lawyers allegedly kidnapped a reporter on Tuesday, thrashed him and his colleague and a cameraman of a local news channel, taking the former hostage in the barroom for exposing `corruption` of a policeman who happened to be brother of a district bar office-holder.

According to sources, Tayyab Maqbool and Ali Raza, both reporters of a private news channel, with a cameraman, Waqas, were leaving the office of Lyallpur Town police superintendent when a group of lawyers reached outside the office.

The lawyers thrashed Mr Maqbool and Mr Raza and also slapped Waqas when he tried to intervene.

Later, they kidnapped Maqbool and made him hostage in the barroom where they subjected him to severe torture.

On knowing about the incident, scores of journalists gathered at the District Council Chowk demand-ing recovery of their colleague and action against the attackers.

The journalists said Mr Maqbool was punished for exposing alleged corruption of Lorry Ada police post moharrar Tahir Munir, who is brother of bar secretary Shahid Munir, through a video clip aired by the private channel.

They said some policemen had also subjected Ramzan Mirza, a reporter of the same channel, and threatened him with dire consequences for airing the corruption video.

Meanwhile, the police claimed they had recovered Mr Maqbool and action would be taken against the suspects after filing of a formal complaint by the victim.

Sources said later in the day, Commissioner Javeed Bhatti had invited the lawyers and the journalists in his office where police officials were also present.

The officials tried to pacify the journalists but they insisted that a case should be registered against those who tortured and kidnapped their colleagues and left the meeting.