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Kidnapping for ransom THE original meaning of the word “kidnap”, which literally designates the seizing of a child, was personified in a recent rare spate of three incidents of child kidnappings in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi area within the span of one week. Until now, such kidnappings for ransom have usually been reported in other cities like Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Peshawar, as well as in the Tribal Areas. Fortunately, all the three kidnap victims ranging in age from six to eight years old — the first two from Islamabad and the third from Rawalpindi — were unharmed during their ordeals and returned safely to their parents. Of the total Rs12.2 million ransom money reportedly involved in the three cases, Rs6.2 million was recovered by the police (Rs6 million apparently by fluke!), while the kidnappers of only one case, viz., the one in Rawalpindi, were caught. It is obvious from the apparent swiftness in which the Rawalpindi police traced, caught all the three kidnappers and recovered the ransom money of Rs200,000 (all reportedly within 36 hours of the kidnapping), that the police possess the computer technology to track calls from pay phones and mobile phones demanding the ransom. It is somewhat strange that the kidnappers, one of whom is reported to be the nephew of the victim’s father, only demanded Rs200,000. It is a mystery however why the Islamabad police were not able to capture the kidnappers of the first two cases, despite apparently knowing where the ransom calls came from and that the same gang was apparently involved in both the cases of kidnapping. It is very daring for anyone to plan a kidnap for ransom given the fact that the crime carries the death penalty. In January 2005, an anti-terrorism court in Karachi sentenced seven men to death in a kidnapping for ransom case, and in February 2005, two anti-terrorism courts in Karachi sentenced six men (including the son of an SSP) and another man to death in two separate cases of kidnapping for ransom. Kidnapping in certain ways is a worse crime than many murders, which in many cases are usually crimes of passion committed on sudden impulse out of anger or rage. Kidnapping on the other hand is definitely premeditated and pre-planned. If money is the ultimate goal, a string of robberies would seem a far less risky venture than kidnapping! Unless of course, the would-be kidnappers have influence and connections, and are confident that in this society of incompetent police and endless investigations, if ever caught, their trial would probably end up with acquittal. Kidnappings in Pakistan may not have yet reached the level of some countries like Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines — the top four countries in the world for kidnappings in the 1990s. In these countries, kidnapping for ransom fuelled by poverty and chaos have become a way of life, if not actually a lucrative industry run by professional gangs and rackets. In such societies where the gap between the rich and poor is daunting, kidnapping of the rich landed gentry and moneyed elite for ransom has become part of the local culture. In these countries, the police are also often known to collude with the kidnappers for a handsome cut. In Pakistan, nevertheless, official concern has been expressed recently about the general rise of kidnapping incidents. In February this year, the Senate was told that incidents of kidnapping for ransom have been on the increase since 1998 with almost 1,500 persons having been kidnapped for ransom since then, the largest number being in Sindh (763), followed by Punjab (482), NWFP (209) and Balochistan (38). Last month, the NWFP chief minister had also expressed concern over the increasing incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the province, as well as other crimes like carjackings and armed robberies. Earlier, the NWFP governor had also expressed concern over the increase in kidnappings. To curb kidnappings, special units have been set up in some cities to deal with this crime. In Karachi, there is the Anti-Violent Crime Cell. In Peshawar, the Anti-Kidnapping Force was established in November 2004. Kidnappers in some prominent cases have actually been caught, and eventually tried and sentenced, but generally, these special units have not been able to make a significant dent so far in curbing this crime. The main reason is that the resources, the training and the will to seriously pursue such crimes are generally lacking. Besides, some kidnappers are also now using satellite phones which the police lack the equipment to trace. Moreover, government agencies responsible for maintaining law and order have sometimes been accused of involvement in such crimes. If the performance of the special Anti-Car Lifting Cell in Islamabad is anything to go by (this cell was reportedly disbanded recently because it was not delivering results), the mere establishment of a similar anti-kidnapping force in the capital in response to the recent kidnappings would seem unlikely to hold much promise. The trend of kidnappings for ransom, as with carjackings, armed robberies and suicides, are indicative of general lawlessness and a growingly intolerable divide between the rich and the poor due to poverty, high employment and low wages. All these factors plus the failure of the death penalty to arrest the trend of kidnapping point to the need for a more overall and comprehensive solution in tackling such crimes. Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
