2,100 kidnappings expose police

LAHORE - Over 2,100 people have been kidnapped across the province under the nose of the big guns of the Punjab Police department during the two month of the year 2011. The cases of kidnapping for ransom have increased by 95 per cent across the biggest province of the country. The heinous crime, which left a wave of terror among the general public, also exposed the so-called police performance and the ever claimed efforts, comprehensive plans and effective strategy framed to guard the lives and property of the citizens. The comparative analysis of official documents of the provincial police shows the top bosses have nothing to do with the masses except making heroic tall claims during press conferences or during high level meetings. The official statistics shows the bandits, gangsters, rapists, murderers and other heinous criminals have been set free to roam across the Punjab without any fear or terror of the police personnel besides committing crimes, which usually closed the chapter of the lives of entire family. The vulnerability has crossed all the boundaries of injustice and insecurity, as 330 out of total 2103 persons were abducted from various parts of the provincial capital alone during the months of January and February. According to the documents, the kidnappers remained on rampage in southern areas of the Punjab as 547 people were picked from Multan and Bahawalpur regions including 110 in Bahawalpur, 73 in Bahawalnagar, 90 from Rahim Yar Khan, 122 Multan, 36 Lodhran, 59 Khanewal and 57 from Vehari Districts. Faisalabad region, an industrial area, achieved second position as total 264 innocent persons were abducted. Over 140 people were kidnapped from Faisalabad, 54 Jhang, 27 Toba Tek Singh and 34 from Chiniot during the two month. The Gujranwala region obtained third position as many as 258 people were abducted from this region including 98 from Gujranwala, 25 Hafizabad, 37 Gujrat, 28 Mandi Bahauddin, 48 Sialkot and 22 from Narowal. According to official statistics, 169 people were kidnapped from Sheikhupura region, 110 from Rawalpindi region, 82 from Sargodha region and 160 people were abducted from Dera Ghazi Khan Regions. The documents further shows over 1890 people were kidnapped during the corresponding period of the last year. The provincial police somehow managed to cancel 480 cases, 498 were challaned, and three were untraced while 1122 cases of abduction are still under investigation. Ironically, only 1678 accused have been apprehended out of total 5092 criminals. On the other side, total 37 persons were kidnapped for ransom from various districts of the Punjab. Again the capital city and the Rahim Yar Khan remained on top with 10 and 11 cases of kidnapping for ransom respectively as this heinous crime has also alarmingly shot up by manifold like the crime of other categories in these cities. As per official records, one person each was kidnapped from Sheikhupura, Kasur, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Attock, Faisalabad, T T Singh and Sahiwal districts while two persons each were picked from Rawalpindi, Mutlan and three went missing from Bahawalpur district. According to comparative analysis, only 20 people were kidnapped during corresponding period of the last year. The provincial police have challaned 18 cases; two were cancelled while 17 cases are still under investigation. Almost 63 kidnappers out of total 172 have been arrested so far.