The dacoits of Katcha area in southern Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan have kidnapped a 9-member dance group including a minor and demanded Rs10 million as ransom money, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.  

The dance group belongs to Chiniot. The group performs during wedding parties. The dacoits trapped the dance group by booking them for a programme. As the group reached Rahim Yar Khan from Chiniot, their phones went silent and did not respond. 

N4NewsHD TV has got an audio clip of a phone call between dacoits and heirs of the abductees. The dacoits have demanded Rs 10 million as ransom money immediately in return of the abductees’ release. 

A minor is also part of the 9-member dance group which has been kidnapped. The minor is often seen on social media exhibiting his performance.

No action has been taken by the police in this regard so far. The circle police have said that they have not received any complaint from the heirs of the abductees. 

An earlier report by the 24NewsHD TV channel revealed that the dacoits of Katcha area in southern Punjab were in possession of sophisticated Indian arms.

The report revealed that the dacoits of Katcha area were armed with modern machine guns and aircraft guns.

The report citing police sources also revealed that the dacoits had a large stockpile of landmines, hand grenades and 7-12 MM launchers too.

The dacoits were also in possession of Vickers machine guns and heavy machine guns which were not available to police.

The dacoits carry modern weapons while Punjab police are equipped with traditional arms. The unavailability of sophisticated weapons has become a major obstacle in operations against the dacoits.

Police operations against the dacoits are failing, for the latter are in possession of modern Indian weaponry.

The police have demanded modern weapons and equipment to take all-out, successful action against the dacoits.

Reporter Javed Anwar