RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least eight residents of Sadiqabad were kidnapped by Katcha area criminals during the last couple of weeks, while three of them have been recovered by police. In a fresh case, on Thursday last, three residents of Chak 146-P and 119-P, Ibrar Ahmed, Hakeem Ali and Shauket Ali, were kidnapped by six Katcha area dacoits near Kanjoo Wali Tibba in Sadiqabad Saddar police limits. According to Khalil Ahmed of Chak 146-P, initially the dacoits took them towards Shakir Kot near the main Railway Track, ML-1. While they were crossing Sola Mori gates under the railway line, one of the hostages, Shouket, started crying and was severely tortured by the dacoits. As the victim suffered a severe head injury, the dacoits left him near Ranjhay Khan area and went towards Katcha area. Ahemd further says the dacoits are demanding Rs1 million for releasing the remaining two hostages. A resident of Chak 145-P, requesting anonymity, told this correspondent that many inhabitants of Katcha area, who are involved in agriculture for around a decade, have become facilitators of different dacoit gangs in kidnapping. These residents, he says, kidnap locals on motorcycles and hand them over to the Katcha area criminals, causing a surge in kidnappings, particularly in Sadiqabad tehsil. According to some residents of Sadiqabad, two taxi drivers, two veterinary doctors and a villager were kidnapped by the dacoits during the last 15 days. He says the taxi drivers were honey- trapped near Kot Sabzal and Bhong areas, while the vets were abducted on a road. He says that of them, the two vets and a local have been recovered by police, while the taxi drivers are still with the dacoits. A source close to police says that another reason for the increase in kidnapping cases in the area is return of two station house officers (SHOs) who are posted at police stations near Katcha. They were earlier transferred on different charges by police high-ups. A police spokesperson told Dawn that District Police Officer Rizwan Umar Gondal took notice of the kidnapping of three persons and one of them was recovered during a search operation. He says the police are trying to trace the criminals with the help of CCTV cameras and human intelligence.