December 13, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 21, 1427

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GUJRANWALA, Dec 12: Gujranwala region has become a hunting field for kidnappers, who, despite being arrested in most incidents, have been causing a serious concern among the moneyed people in the area throughout the current year.

According to reports, over two dozen people, including doctors, businessmen and their relatives, and even a two-year-old child, fell a prey to kidnappers, during 2006, who later released them after receiving hefty ransom from their families, while a UC nazim and his driver were killed by the outlaws in such a bid.

An industrialist Abdul Haleem’s son Zubair Haleem was kidnapped from Dhulley by two outlaws when he was on his way to his factory. He was released by the kidnappers, reportedly after receiving Rs40 million ransom. Police arrested one of the accused, Qadeer, and recovered Rs250,000 from his possession.

Similarly, three youths of Peoples Colony — Maaz Umar, Ferhan and Mansoor — were kidnapped by accused Mana and Asghar etc for Rs500,000 ransom and were later released by them after receiving the ransom amount. Police concerned arrested the accused and recovered ransom amount from them.

Another industrialist, Wajid Munir, of Baghbanpura was kidnapped by two outlaws Azher and Usman etc, who released him after receiving Rs200,000 ransom. Police arrested all the accused.

A kamoki poultry farmer, Anwarul Haq, was kidnapped from his farm by eight armed men and was later released by the abductors after receiving Rs10 million ransom.

Two outlaws kidnapped Asif of Satellite Town and freed him after receiving Rs100,000 ransom. However, police arrested an accused, Nadim, recovering Rs50,000 cash from him.

A factory owner, Khalil, of Dhulley was kidnapped by four outlaws, who later released him after receiving Rs1 million ransom. Police arrested an accused, Ghulam Rasul, recovering Rs50,000 from him.

Tanvir Akram was kidnapped along with his family members by four outlaws in Saddar area when he was on his way to Islamabad by his car. He was later released by the kidnappers who received Rs2.5 million ransom. Police claimed to have arrested all accused, besides recovering ransom amount from their possession.

Yet another industrialist, Haji Younis’s son Amer Shahzad of Sabzi Mandi was kidnapped by half a dozen outlaws, who released him after receiving Rs200,000 ransom. Police arrested an accused, Tariq, along with his accomplices, and recovered ransom money from them.

In another incident, two-year-old Abdullaha, son of Riaz of Ghakkhar Town, was kidnapped by two outlaws for Rs500,000 ransom. However, police recovered him after arresting accused Sidiq and Azmat etc.

Peoples Colony union council nazim Liaqat Mehr and his driver Karamat were kidnapped by unidentified accused for ransom and were later killed in Sargodha. Police recovered the bodies of the deceased and arrested two accused.

A rice dealer, Zulfikar Ali Cheema, of Naushera Virkan was kidnapped along with his son Husnain Cheema, allegedly by a proclaimed offender and his accomplice, for Rs20 million ransom. However, the accused reportedly left them on Sheikhupura road near a police picket without receiving any ransom and escaped. Police have registered the case against the nominated accused and are investigating.

Meanwhile, two doctors Abdul Aziz and Abdul Latif of Wapda Town, who were kidnapped by eight armed men for Rs5 million ransom, were released by the accused after receiving the amount. The police could not arrest the accused so far.

A landlord’s son, Muhammad Azeem, who was kidnapped from his house by unidentified men for Rs30 million ransom, was reportedly recovered by police from Sialkot without payment of ransom.

Commenting on the rising incidence of lawlessness in the area, Regional Police Officer Malik Muhammad Iqbal said that most of the `culprits’ involved in such crime had been arrested, while police parties were conducting raids for the remaining. He was of the view that unregistered mobile phones had facilitated such crime, and solid steps should be taken by the telecom authorities to help check issuance of SIMs without proper documentation.