The main accused, Shahbaz, along with accomplices, Owais and Mehwish, escaped to Bhaisan village after police recovered the minor child on May 30 and handed him to the family.

On the information of the Crime Investigation Agency Lahore, police raided the village where the accused were hiding. In an exchange of fire between the accused and the security officials, Shehbaz was killed, while Owais managed to escape from the spot.

However, police arrested Mehwish who had devised the plan to kidnap Areez.

A first information report was registered against the minor’s abduction at the Sundar police station.

In a tweet on May 30, police claimed to have arrested two accused from Sarai Alamgir during a hidden operation. “The accused were close relatives and devised a plan through facilitators,” the tweet said.