LAHORE Gunmen kidnapped a youth from Johar Town area on early Saturday and demanded Rs 5 million as ransom for his safe release, a police officer disclosed to this reporter here Saturday night. Muhammad Zahid told the police that his cousin Muhammad Khalid, a resident of (Fblock) Johar Town, was on his way home after offering prayer at a nearby Masjid when a group of gunmen intercepted him. They bundled the youth into the car and fled away from the crime scene. His cellular phone has been switched off, the complainant told the police. Late on Saturday night, the victim family received a telephone call from the mobile phone of the abducted youth. The kidnappers confirmed the abduction of Khalid and asked the victim family to arrange at least Rs 5 million ransom for his safe release and as early as possible. They also threatened the family that they would gun down the youth if they tried to disclose the happening to the police. The police have registered the case under section (365-A) kidnapping for ransom against unidentified abductors and are investigating with no arrest made so far. The incidents of kidnapping for ransom have shot up alarmingly here in the Punjab Capital, putting a question mark on the performance of the law enforcement agencies. In the wee hours of Saturday, an American national was abducted by a group of gunmen from his Model Town residence. Police suspected the he was also kidnapped for ransom.