SUKKUR, Jan 28: Two hostages were recovered on Wednesday after an exchange of firing between police and the kidnappers in the Mehmoodabad village, Shikarpur district.

ASI Asghar Buriro and schoolteacher Abdul Sattar Buriro were kidnapped by a group of armed men from Kandhra on Jan 17. A police constable deployed at a nearby check post was also killed by the armed men.

A helicopter was used for the safe recovery of the hostages. Speaking at a press conference, the DPO of Sukkur said when the Jatoi clansmen came to know that the area was cordoned off by the police, they staged a sit-in on the Shikarpur Road and blocked it to deviate the attention of police.

He said they caused hindrance in the performance of the police and were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation. He said 10 people allegedly involved in the kidnapping had been arrested.

The hostages said the dacoits changed their hideouts five times in 12 days. They said kidnappers belonged to Jatoi clan and when police arrived in the area, they tried to change the hideout, which according to them was a big ditch covered with bushes.

They said police challenged them and an exchange of fire took place between the police and the kidnappers as a result the dacoits fled towards the forest leaving them behind.

KILLED: A man was killed and another injured seriously when their motorcycle hit a landmine on the Sindh-Balochistan border on Wednesday. Two motorcyclists, Khawand Bux Bugti, and Shah Murad, were on their way to Sui (Balochistan), when reached near the RD-125 their motorcycle hit a landmine which exploded as a result Khawand Bux Bugti was killed on the spot while Shah Murad was injured seriously. He was shifted to the civil hospital Sui where his condition was said to be critical.

PPP ACTIVISTS: The Shikarpur police on Wednesday refused to release four activists of the youth wing of the People's Party Parliamentarians who three days back had threatened to self-immolate if PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto was not allowed to return and cases against Asif Ali Zardari were not withdrawn.

The activists, Waqar Keehar, Shabbir Buriro, Suhail Mangi and Nadeem Memon, did not commit suicide as PPP leader Junaid Soomro pressured them against it. The Shikarpur police arrested them three days back.

BANDIT ARRESTED: A wanted outlaw, Khamiso Kori, and his three accomplices, including a woman, were arrested in Daharki on Wednesday. One Klashnikov and one pistol were also recovered from their possession.

The arrested outlaw was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Dr Amanullah Bhurgari of Sukkur, Ashiq Hussain, manager of the Rohri Cement Factory, Dr Sarfaraz of Sukkur and two officials of a multinational company. One of the arrested accomplices was identified as Asghar Ali.