2 Hindu traders kidnapped by gangsters in Pakistan’s Punjab

Two Hindu traders in Pakistan have been kidnapped by gangsters who have demanded the release of their accomplices from police custody in exchange for the safe release of the businessmen, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in Rahim Yar Khan, over 500 km from Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province.

"Shameer Jee and Dheema Jee were kidnapped by dacoits of the Katcha (riverine) area on Friday. They later demanded the release of their accomplices for their release," senior police officer Rizwan Gondal told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the gangsters' ringleader, Kabul Sukhan, who carries a bounty of PKR 10 million on his head, is involved in the kidnapping of the traders.

A police team has been constituted to recover the kidnapped Hindus and some five others recently kidnapped by the dacoits, he said.

"The gangsters have also released a video of Hindu and other hostages, demanding the release of their accomplices currently in police custody. The gangsters have threatened to kill the captives if their demands are not met," he said.

He expressed hope that police operation would soon recover the kidnapped traders.