ABBOTTABAD (Hamdullah Khan): Abbottabad police have busted an inter-provincial gang involved in honey-trapping and kidnapping for ransom, arresting two key suspects and safely recovering an abducted man during a swift operation here on Wednesday.
According to police, the action was taken under the leadership of DPO Abbottabad Haroon Rashid Khan, under the supervision of SP Cantt Ali Hamza Butt, and led by SHO Police Station Mirpur Asghar Khan. The case surfaced when a Pakistani citizen residing in France contacted Mirpur police, reporting that his father, Abdul Aziz Malana of Multan, had gone missing after arriving in Abbottabad to attend a wedding.
The complainant later received a call from unknown suspects, who sent a video showing the victim chained and demanded Rs150 million as ransom, threatening to kill him if the demand was not met.
Acting promptly, police used modern investigative techniques, including analysis of CCTV footage from the Daewoo bus terminal. Investigations revealed that the victim had boarded a taxi after reaching Abbottabad. The taxi driver was traced, leading police to Usmanabad, where a successful raid was conducted.
During the operation, the two main accused, Waseem Abbas of Mian Channu, Khanewal, and Bibi of Shergarh, Lahore, were arrested, while the abductee was recovered unharmed.
Police said initial investigations showed the involvement of an organised inter-provincial gang. A woman allegedly lured the victim through a honey trap and later handed him over to her accomplices, who kidnapped him and held him for ransom.
A case has been registered under Section 365-A on the complaint of SHO Mirpur Police Station, and further investigation is underway. Raids are being conducted to arrest other facilitators and absconding suspects.
Police officials said the timely and professional action ensured the safe recovery of the abductee and exposed a gang involved in serious organised crimes.
