SHIKARPUR: Kidnapping for ransom is on rise in district as five persons have been kidnapped within a few days from Shikarpur for ransom. Villagers Jamalul-uddin-Indhar and Shahnawaz had been kidnapped from outside village Jami Quba near Rustam Town of tehsil Khanpur by unidentified armed bandits and were taken away to unknown place for ransom on December 18, 2017. Two brothers, Tanveer Ahmed Soomro and Naveed Ahmed Soomro along with their friend Shahid Kalhoro while traveling to their village Haji Khan Kalhoro from Khanpur taluka of Shikarpur were kidnapped by unknown armed dacoits December 23, 2017. The heirs of kidnapped persons alongwith respective villagers blocking portion of Shikarpur-Kashmore Indus Highway protested against police as according to them police have failed to find out clue of kidnapped persons. Umar Tufial, police chief Shikarpur claimed recovery of two kidnapped villagers Jamalul Uddin Indhar and Shahnawaz Indhar after an encounter at Dhak Band in katcha area of Ghari Tegho of taluka Khanpur, He also claimed arrests of a dozen suspects from there. Police chief claimed that notorious bandit Gul Hassan Jatoi was involved in kidnapping for ransom while notorious dacoits Manzoor Jaffari, Shero Jatoi, Rahib Jatoi, Rahmatullah Badani and Jeaind Teghani were part of his party. The civil society including Zahid Bhanbhro, Naveed Alam Abro, Mian Zafar Alvi, Sultan Rind and others have demanded government higher authorities to take notice of reemerging kidnapping for ransom so that people of Shikarpur could take sigh of relief. Published in Daily Times, December 26th 2017.