ABBOTTABAD: Police on Wednesday foiled an inter-provincial gang involved in honey trap scams and kidnapping for ransom, safely rescuing an abducted man and arresting two key suspects, including a woman, officials said.
SP Cantt Ali Hamza Butt said that the operation was carried out by Mirpur Police Station against a criminal network involved in serious and organized crimes. He said timely, professional action ensured the safe recovery of the abductee, while raids were underway to arrest other members of the gang.
According to police, SHO Asghar Khan received information through a whatsapp call from a Pakistani citizen residing in France, who reported that his father, Abdul Aziz Malana, a resident of Ghazi Colony, Multan, had gone missing after traveling to Abbottabad to attend a wedding. The complainant stated that his father suddenly became unreachable and his mobile phone remained switched off.
Meanwhile, the complainant received a call from an unknown number in which the suspects sent a video showing the victim chained and demanded a ransom of Rs150 million, threatening to kill him if the amount was not paid.
Upon receiving the information, SHO Asghar Khan immediately initiated action in a prompt and professional manner. Following modern investigative techniques, police reviewed CCTV footage from the Daewoo bus terminal, which revealed that the victim had boarded a taxi after arriving in Abbottabad.
Using the CCTV footage, police traced the taxi driver, whose identification led the police team to the suspects. Subsequently, a successful raid was conducted in Usmanabad, Abbottabad, resulting in the arrest of two main accused: Waseem Abbas, a resident of Katcha Koh, Mian Channu, Khanewal, and Bibi, wife of Shabbir Ahmed, a resident of Shergarh, Lahore. The abducted victim, Abdul Aziz Malana, was safely recovered during the operation.
During investigation, it was revealed that the crime was carried out by an organized inter-provincial gang. A female member of the group initially lured the victim through a honey trap and later handed him over to her accomplices in Usmanabad, where he was kidnapped and detained for ransom.
On the complaint of SHO Mirpur Police Station, a case has been registered under Section 365-A, and further investigation is underway. Police said raids are being conducted to arrest other facilitators and absconding members of the gang.
The timely, effective, and professional action by Abbottabad Police not only ensured the safe recovery of the abductee but also exposed and brought to justice a gang involved in heinous crimes such as honey trap and kidnapping for ransom.
