DADU, Jan 26: The district officer, revenue, Pervez Ahmad Junejo, who was kidnapped by bandits 23 days back, was released on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference at the circuit house here on Sunday, Junejo said due to the pressure of the district administration and negotiations between the Sindh government and some tribal chieftains of Balochistan, he was released without paying ransom.

He said the bandits left him near the Lasmo oil project, Bhit Jabal.

The SP, investigation, Mohammad Sadiq, said the police had arrested 20 persons and had recovered automatic weapon from their possession.

Junejo, along with his family members and the Mukhtiarkar of Johi, had gone to Kachho area.

A gang of bandits intercepted them on the Wahi Pandhi-Gorakh Hill Station road and took them away.

After covering two-km distance, the bandits released the members of Junejo’s family, Mukhtiarkar Nazar Mohammad Shahani, and his two guards.

The bandits took Junejo to Balochistan.

COUNCILLORS’ PROTEST: The councillors of Dadu city held a demonstration outside the local press club on Saturday against suspension of water supply to various city localities.

Talking to journalists, they said that the officials of Taluka Municipal Committee, Dadu, were not paying attention to different areas of the city.

They said that drains of the city were overflowing and water supply to some localities was suspended for the last several days. They threatened to commit self-immolation if water supply was not restored and the drainage system was not improved.