10 people among passengers kidnapped by Katcha area dacoits from Quetta-bound bus rescued: police

Ten people among those who were kidnapped by Katcha area dacoits from a Quetta-bound bus near Ubauro in Sindh’s Ghotki district have been recovered, Sukkur police said on Tuesday, adding that an operation for the rescue of the remaining passengers was under way.

Around 15 dacoits had attacked the bus on Monday night and kidnapped several passengers after injuring the driver.

A statement from the office of Sukkur Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) captain (retd) Faisal Abdullah Chachar today said that 10 of the kidnapped passengers had been rescued in an overnight operation under the DIG’s command.

“Police and Rangers personnel rescued 10 of the abducted passengers after an exchange of fire [with the dacoits] in Sonmiani,” the statement said.

Quoting the rescued passengers, it added that at least two dacoits were injured during the operation.

“All routes leading to the Katcha area were blocked, preventing the bandits from taking the hostages there,” the statement said, adding that the blockade was still in place and would continue “until all bandits are eliminated”.

It further stated that the dacoits were being chased and “the fight with them is ongoing” for the recovery of the remaining passengers.

Meanwhile, the rescued passengers were taken to safe locations.

The attack

According to some videos shared on social media after 9:30pm on Monday, a passenger said a Sadabahar Company coach departed for Quetta from Sadiqabad at 8pm.

When it reached near the Murid Shaikh area near M-5 Motorway, it took a turn towards Guddu at the Punjab-Sindh border. Some 65kms from the area, the dacoits intercepted the coach and started firing.

They entered the bus after smashing the windows and asked the passengers to leave the coach, but did not harm the female passengers.

It was reported that the dacoits had kidnapped 25 passengers, but the number of abducted passengers has not been confirmed by police yet.