SUKKUR: The Sindh police succeeded in recovering a three-year-old hostage from the captivity of a gang on Sunday night hours before the expiry of a three-day deadline set by the Sindh High Court to end an eight-day ordeal of the affected family.

The court had taken notice of a video that had gone viral on the social media last week showing the boy, Samrat Kumar, in custody of a gang of dacoits. The video was believed to have been uploaded by the gang to mount pressure on the boy`s family and relatives to pay ransom.

The court ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon to ensure safe recovery of the toddler within three days and submit his report. The deadline was to expire on Sunday night and the IGP was supposed to file his report on Monday morning.

Several hundred people, mainly members of the Hindu community living in Kandhkot, along with activists of various nationalist groups, some political parties and civil society organisations, had gathered at the residence of the affected family when the provincial police broke the news about safe recovery of the boy in the late hours of Sunday.

Otherwise overwhelmed by extreme stress and anxiety, the parents and close relatives of Samrat Kumar burst with joy when they had the first glimpse of their loved-one being brought before them by Shikarpur SSP Amjad Ali Sheikh, who was earlier tasked with his recovery by the IGP.

The boy`s all relatives were seen smilingly hugging and congratulating each other.

Samrat Kumar had gone missing nine days ago while playing in the street of Mirzapur, a densely populated locality of Kandhkot. His parents and relatives had told the police that armed criminals ridinga motorcycle had kidnapped and taken him away into the gangs-infested riverine area. Since then they had been passing sleepless nights. After five days, when the area police failed to even find a clue to the boy or his kidnappers, the Hindu Punchayat on Friday pitched a protest camp at Ghanta Ghar in Kandhkot. Elites of the district and many activists of political parties, nationalist groups and civil society organisations kept visiting the camp in groups until Sunday evening. The elites included the most influential figure of the district, Teghu Khan Teghani.

According to SSP Sheikh, under immense pressure mounted by police, the kidnappers shifted the young hostage to a hideout in the riverine area of Garhi Teghu, located in Khanpur taluka of Shikarpur district. The SSP said a team led by him followed the clue to reach the hideout and challenged the kidnappers.

`After an encounter, the gang abandoned the child and fled into the riverine area, said the police officer, adding that one member of the gang was found dead at the encounter site. The dead was later identified as Ali Ahmed Jafferi, who was the ringleader of the gang, the SSP said.

Speaking to a cheering crowd, he said police were committed to get freed all other people held hostage by gangs in the upper Sindh districts.

Ransom never paid: IGP It was taken as a coincidence that IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon happened to be in Ghouspur town of Kandhkot when the eight-day ordeal of Samrat`s family and relatives came to an end.

The provincial police chief was on a scheduled visit to the area to offer his condolences to the bereaved families of fellow policemen Ghulam Nabi Soomro and Ali Malik who had kissed martyrdom in the line of duty.

DIG Larkana Range Mazhar Nawaz Sheikh, Shikarpur SSP Amjad Ali Sheikh and Kashomre SSP Irfan Ali Sammo as well as other senior police officers accompanie d him.

Speaking to the media, IGP Memon categorically refuted all claims about payment of ransom by police. `Police neverpaid ransom for the release of any hostage,` he said, adding that he expected appreciation of police by the media and the public at large.

He said that the Sindh police needed full support from them for the success of the ongoing operation in the riverine areas of four districts [Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Ghotki] to restore complete peace in the province.

The IGP said that the police were making all-out efforts to eliminate gangs of outlaws and take kidnappers and killers of people and policemen to task.

He said the provincial government was extending all possible cooperation and assistance in this regard by providing funds, weapons, gadgets, vehicles and intelligence services as and when required.

`The Sindh government and my office have given complete freehand to the police force fighting against the outlaws in the operation areas,` said the IGP.

He said that as many as 67 dacoits had been killed and another 68 wounded and arrested in the ongoing operation. Over 300 outlaws had also been arrested during the last four months, he added.

Rally for release of Wapda employees While the IGP was visiting Kandhkot, a group of Wapda employees took out a rally for the release of their kidnapped fellow workers Jamil Ahmed Buriro and Asif Ali Punjabi. They said that armed dacoits had taken them away at gun point after barging into the Karampur grid station a few days ago.

Labour leaders Abdullah Nizamani, Nisar Sheikh and Agha Pathan, representing the protesters, demanded immediate action for the safe release of their co-workers. They warned that power supply to Karampur, Ghouspur and Kandhkot would be suspended if steps were not taken for the early recovery of the hostages.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami activists held a demonstration in front of Kandhkot SSP`s office for the safe recovery of a boy, Azeem Manik, who was kidnapped four days ago. The protesters raised slogans for the release of all those who had been held hostage by dacoits in the upper Sindh districts.

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LAHORE: The inquiry report of Children’s Hospital and University of Child Health Sciences (CH&UCHS), Lahore, released on Sunday, declared that the death of a baby girl was due to natural causes rather than purported burning due to excessive heat.

A four-member inquiry committee headed by Prof Dr Javed Iqbal, Professor of Paediatric Medicine, CH&UCHS, Lahore, and comprising Dr Farah Haroon, Associate Professor/HOD of Neonataology, Dr Muhammad Aquib, DMS (E), and Engr Shujaat Ali, Biomedical Engineer, declared upon completion of inquiry that “the cause of death in this baby was late onset sepsis with purpura fulminans leading to multi-organ failure”.

Earlier, it was reported in the media that the daughter of Kiran, (MR CH 232191527) five days of age, has allegedly been scorched to death due to excessive heat of warmer. The questions are also raised over no mention of the status of the second child patient, who had also suffered burns, in the inquiry report. On the day of incident on Saturday, the Children’s Hospital administration had admitted that two children had suffered burns.

The inquiry report says that the probe committee visited the hospital immediately and found that D/0 Kiran MR No. CH 232191527, five days of life baby girl, had been presented in neonatal emergency with complaints of loose motion and respiratory distress for two days. On examination, baby was sick with hypothermic skin mottling, lethargic cyanosed jaundiced with SPO2 of 80pc%.

The baby was immediately admitted; intravenous line secured; oxygen inhalation administered; and antibiotics, IV fluids were given according to protocol. The baby was shifted to NNU-HDU for further management. The baby was put under photo-therm to manage hypothermia and hyperbilirubinemia at 2:30PM. At 7PM, the baby developed gasping respiration along with deep blue black discoloration of skin involving face, trunk, lower limbs and severe bradycardia. The baby was immediately intubated and put on mechanical ventilation along with inotropes.

“The critical condition of baby was explained to parents,” the report said. The baby collapsed again; immediately resuscitated but baby could not revive and declared to be dead at 11:25PM. ‘The cause of death in this baby was late onset sepsis with purpura fulminans leading to multi-organ failure,” the report declared.

Meanwhile, reports also says, the Head of Neonatology Department and Bio-Medical Engineer visited the incident site and checked the functionality of the warmer including the working of thermal sensor, which were working properly.

The investigation report has been sent to the chief minister and the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education. Earlier, caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Children’s Hospital owing to the death of a female infant due to overheating of an incubator in the nursery of the hospital. Mohsin Naqvi inspected the site and sought details from the doctors about the incident.

Secretary Health and senior doctors accompanied him. Mohsin Naqvi inquired about the well-being of other children admitted in the nursery and issued necessary directions with regard to properly looking after the children. The CM expressed his deep grief over the death of the infant and directed to follow 100% medical protocol in the nursery. He asserted that not even a minor negligence would be tolerated with regard to looking after the infant children.

Mohsin Naqvi visited other wards and reviewed facilities being provided for the treatment of the children over there. On one bed, two-three children were being treated. Caretaker CM directed the hospital administration to keep one bed for one child for providing them treatment.

Mohsin Naqvi while taking stern notice of the death of the infant has constituted a four-member inquiry committee in this regard.Caretaker CM directed to provide best treatment facilities to the burnt children.

Mohsin Naqvi asserted that zero-tolerance would be shown on any further incident and an indiscriminate action would be taken against those for committing negligence. Mohsin Naqvi outlined that strict punishment would be given according to the law after finding out the staff responsible for committing negligence.

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MANSEHRA: A man killed his stepdaughter for honour and then buried her body secretly to hide his crime in Soray Asharay area of Torghar district in the early hours on Sunday, the police said.

`A team led by SHO rushed to the scene after a man allegedly killed his stepdaughter suspecting her of having relations with a man,` district police officer Bilal Ahmad told reporters.

He said the accused, according to the preliminary investigation, after spotting his 20-year-old stepdaughter with a local man, opened fired, leaving her dead. The other man remained unhurt and managed to escape.

He said the police were searching for the accused, who had got married to the slain girl`s mother after her husband died some years ago.

The police lodged an FIR under section 302 of PPC on the complaint ofthe girl`s grandfather.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan`s local representative Zahid Khan said the killing was latest in a series of murders perpetrated in the garb of deadly `chor` custom that prevailed in the erstwhile tribal belt of Mansehra.

`In such gruesome incidents, where a woman or girl is killed for honour, her funeral prayer is not offered and she is buried secretly,` he said.

Mr Khan feared the man, who had managed to flee from the scene of the murder, would also be killed anytime under the custom.

`We cannot exactly say if the man and the slain girl were spotted together by inmates at the latter`s residence,` he said.

ROAD ACCIDENT: Seven people, including three women, sustained critical injuries when a van skidded off the road and plunged into theSiren River in Shinkiari area here on Sunday.

The van carrying passengers was on way to Shinldari from Schain area when the driver lost control over the steering while negotiating a sharp turn. The locals rushed the injured to the Civil Hospital in Shinkiari, wherefrom four of them in critical condition were referred to Ayub Medical Complex Hospital in Abbottabad.

HOUSE GUTTED: A house was gutted on Sunday in Jullo area here on Sunday, a rescue official said, adding the fire also destroyed household goods, cash and gold ornaments.

Rescue 1122 firefighters put out the fire after hectic efforts of two hours.

The official said an electric shortcircuit caused the fire.

Mohammad Yusuf, the house owner, said his family was rescued to a nearby place by locals as the raging flames engulfed his house. Correspondent

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TOBA TEK SINGH: A 13-year-old, who had been missing since May 26, was raped and murdered by his cousin and an accomplice.

The suspects threw it into the Trimmu-Haveli Lakha Link Canal near Shorkot Cantonment. The case initially began as a kidnapping report, filed by the deceased boy`s father, of Chak 5 JB Gagh, who stated in the FIR that his son was abducted by his cousin and the accomplice.

Upon apprehending the suspects, the police investigation revealed that both suspects had confessed to strangling the boy to death and discarding the body into the canal from a railway track bridge. However, the body was eventually recovered from the Head Sidhnai-Mailsi Link Canal near Chak 28/10-R, in Chab Kalan police precincts in Khanewal.

The father of the deceased identified the body through photographs provided by the police.

DIES: A young student pursuing chartered accountancy at a private institute in Lahore lost his life while attempting to save a drowning dog.

The incident occurred on Sunday near Chak 379 JB Kaloya, in the Jhang branch canal. According to Rescue 1122, Babar Javed was riding his bike along the canal bank when he noticed a distressed dog struggling to escape the water. He tried to assist the animal using a tree branch but lost his balance and fell into the canal, resulting in his drowning.

Correspondent

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LAHORE: A woman lost her life after reportedly jumping from the elevated station of the Metro Orange Line on Sunday. The identity of the woman remains unknown at this time.

CCTV footage captured the moment when the woman deliberately threw herself onto the road below. The impact of the fall resulted in multiple injuries, causing her immediate demise. Upon receiving an alert from the Orange Line staff, the police arrived at the scene and subsequently transferred the body to the city morgue.

A police official stated that the woman`s identity and motive for her actions have yet to be determined. Authorities are pursuing various avenues to establish contact with the deceased woman`s relatives.

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