LAHORE: Some unidentified armed men allegedly kidnapped a 12-year-old boy from a crowded street in Sanda area here on Tuesday.

As per police and eyewitnesses, several people were present in the street when four armed men came there in a car, bundled the boy into the vehicle and sped away.

A close circuit TV (CCTV) footage of the incident showed no one dared to stop two of the armed men as they kidnapped the boy in the broad daylight.

Some of the netizens especially criticised a group of young men, present in the street and watching the entire episode as the child even ran towards them for help moments before his kidnap, for not intervening or making any attempt to rescue him.

They termed it an example of growing insensitivity in society towards crimes, especially those committed against the children.

A police team, however, reached the spot soon after the footage went viral on social media and lodged a case against the unidentified kidnappers.

Quoting findings of an initial inquiry, a police official says the boy has been identified as Tayyab, a resident of Rajgarh, who was kidnapped while returning home from a video game shop.

He says the investigators are of the opinion that the kidnapping may have a link to the video game shop, adding that the man running the shop has been taken into custody for interrogation.

The police are trying to get the data of CCTV cameras installed around the crime scene, he says, adding that they are also exploring other angles to dig out the motive behind the crime.

To a question, he said, the police were in contact with the boy’s father Atta Ullah and other family members, who expressed their ignorance about the identity of the kidnappers and the motive behind the crime.

Further investigation was underway, the police official said.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2022