LAHORE, July 7: Mochhi Gate investigation police claimed to have busted a two-member gang allegedly involved in kidnapping children, forcing them to work in a factory and then depriving them of their salary.

The police recovered two 10-year-old children from Sukhayki who were kidnapped by the accused from outside Data Ganj Baksh shrine some four days ago.

According to investigators, the arrested men have confessed to kidnapping the children for getting them employed at a factory.

City Investigation SP Ahmad Nawaz Cheema told Dawn that the accused, identified as Muhammad Ali of Chiniot and Fiaz Ahmad of Jehlum, lured Sikanadr Nasi and Ahmad Irshaad, to Lalian on July 4, promising them that they would be given money. The children were on a visit to shrine.

He said Mochi and Lohari gates’ police registered two kidnap cases under Section 363 of the Pakistan Penal Code and started investigations.

The SP said Mochhi Gate police on tip-off traced whereabouts of one of the accused who lived in Hafizabad. The police were also informed that the accused had dropped the children at a factory on Sheikhupura Road.

He said police watched the movement of the suspect and after confirming that he had visited the factory took him into custody and recovered the children. The other accused was also nabbed later from Sheikhupura.

Cheema said police inquiries showed that the accused would kidnap children and got them employed at a factory from where they would get Rs4,000 monthly as every victim’s salary.

He said several children had run away from the illegal detention of the accused.

He said the recovered children had been handed over to the affected families.

The SP said that the accused had earlier kidnapped two children from Gujranwala for the purpose who later escaped from their detention.