All passengers abducted from Quetta-bound bus rescued, say police

Sindh police rescued all 19 hostages after a major joint operation in Katcha area of Soomiani, in Ghotki district, on Tuesday.

The incident that happened on Monday when more than 20 dacoits, from the Katcha area, attacked a passenger bus, injured its driver and abducted 19 male passengers. 

A raid was carried out by police personnel from Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur and Kashmore, with Rangers also assisting them. Sukkur DIG Faisal Abdullah Chachar reached Ghotki to supervise the action alongside Ghotki SSP Muhammad Anwar Khetran, Sukkur SSP Azhar Khan Mughal and Khairpur SSP Samiullah Soomro.

Police officials said that routes leading to the Katcha area were sealed, preventing the suspects from escaping. In police confrontation with the suspects, two of the suspects were injured and a police constable sustained injuries on his hand.

DSP Abdul Qadir Soomro confirmed that 14 hostages were initially recovered, followed by the rescue of the remaining. However, one hostage died of a possible heart attack in a sugarcane field before being recovered, while two others were injured and shifted to hospital. The deceased’s body was taken to Ubauro hospital for medical and legal formalities.

Rahim Yar Khan DPO Irfan Samoon clarified that the kidnapping did not take place in Punjab but on a link road near Guddu in Sindh, saying that now all hostages have been safely recovered.