KARACHI, Dec 31: Thirty-nine people were kidnapped in 33 cases of kidnappings-for-ransom in 2003. In all the case, three victims lost their lives, two are still in captivity while the law-enforcement agencies managed to recover 34 persons safely.

According to the data compiled by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, a considerable increase in the kidnapping cases was noticed this year as compared to 2002 in which 25 such cases were reported in 2003.

"The increase in the cases has been noticed owing to a new trend which has lately been observed since July 2003 as kidnappers make the inmate of the car hostage and demand ransom.

They keeping on wandering on different roads and ask the family to arrange quickly an amount for the release of the captives", said the CPLC chief Sharfuddin Memon.

He said it was a dangerous trend and the CPLC assisted the police to track down the criminals in such cases. The police, with the help of CPLC, detected the location of the criminals using mobile phones and arrested the gang members Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Iqbal and Nadeem alias Chhota. Their two more accomplices Khalid Abbas and Mohammad Ali were also arrested, he added.

"Although we busted the gang, its ring leader Nadeem alias Katta alias Bara Malik is still absconding and we are providing assistance to the police to arrest him", Mr Memon said.

In 2003, the first kidnapping for ransom case was reported in Surjani Town on Jan 30. The victim was freed after his family paid a ransom. The kidnappers could not be identified in the case.

The last case of the year 2003 took place on Dec 28. Amir Jamil was the target who got himself released after paying Rs370,000 ransom and jewellery worth of Rs200,000.

He did not lodge an FIR, but reported the matter to the CPLC. Khwaja Mohammad, a businessman, who had been kidnapped for ransom in Preedy police limits, was the last captive who was recovered on Dec 30. Three of his captors, including a girl, were also arrested.

In Ibrahim Hyderi, three children were kidnapped, and they were freed after 15 days of negotiations. Two employees of a petroleum firm were kidnapped in Gulzar-i-Hijri police limits and freed after many days. An officer of a foreign bank was kidnapped from Sharea Faisal on Oct 12, and was set at liberty after 22 days.

One Rajesh, who was kidnapped from Mai Kolachi bypass in TPX police limits on July 21, was freed after 95 days and his captors Abdul Karim Zargar, Ghulam Rasool Palari, and Nazeer Buleedi were arrested.

"We have upgraded our communications system and acquired equipment to detect the location of a mobile phone through its signals as kidnappers have started using mobile phones.

In most of the cases, we have traced the kidnappers through their mobile phones", the CPLC chief maintained. He was of the opinion that the mobile phone companies had been giving connections to people without meeting legal requirements laid down in the law.

"If a connection is given after observing legal formalities and after obtaining a photograph of the applicant with references, it would help check misuse of mobile phones. It would also help the LEAs to track down those misusing phones", he added.

According to the data, the incidents of short-term mobile kidnapping began in July, and the first case was reported on July 11. A total number of 10 such cases occurred in which 11 people were kidnapped.

However, only two FIRs were registered with the police out of 10 cases as those kidnapped were freed after paying ransom the same day and most of them declined to register a case. They preferred reporting the matter to the CPLC rather than informing the police.

Two people freed themselves from the clutches of their captors without giving any ransom. However, nine people in eight cases paid a sum of Rs2.14 million for getting themselves released. The CPLC chief said efforts were being made to arrest those involved in "short-term mobile kidnapping cases".

He said 10 different gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom, including Ghulam Qadir Nohani gang and Rustam alias Raza alias Haider gang, were busted. He said some of their accomplices were still at large, including Arshad alias Pappoo, Haji Mashooq Brohi, Shahnawaz, and Rustam Burgari, and efforts were being made to track them down.

Three people, who had been kidnapped, were later killed by the kidnappers and they have been identified as Tauqeer Ahmed, Abbas Barkat Ali and Omar. Two others are still in the captivity.

They included Mohammad Hanif Tharani and Khalid Mobin. Hanif was kidnapped on Oct 15 at Sharea Faisal, and Khalid Mubeen on Oct 24 in Liaquatabad.