PESHAWAR, Feb 13: Incidents of kidnapping have gone up in the city, creating a sense of insecurity in people. Police have failed to provide protection to people as kidnappers strike at their will. More than 36 people, including children, have been kidnapped for ransom from the city and its adjacent areas during the last one month. Last year, 160 people were kidnapped in the city.

Incidents of robberies, car-snatching and other heinous crimes have also increased, showing the failure of law-enforcers in effectively discharging their duties.

Police also reportedly try to hide news regarding kidnapping incidents and avoid FIRs in respective police stations, which further increase difficulties of the victim family.

Kidnapping has become a business – a person becomes millionaire in a few days by kidnapping some rich people or their children. Kidnap victims are usually taken to the nearby Khyber Agency after keeping them for some while in Peshawar. Police cannot raid hideouts of kidnappers in Fata but the respective political administration can trace the kidnappers and their hideouts. However, they are reluctant to take action against such anti-social elements due to reasons best known to high-ups.

If the family of a kidnapped person can afford to pay the ransom, they pays the amount and saves the life of their dear one, but a hostage from a family which does not have means to meet the ransom demand remains in the custody of kidnappers for several months, even for years in some cases. Many families have even sold their houses and other property to meet the ransom demand.

Sohail Kalandar, a senior journalist, was kidnapped on Jan 2 but he is yet to be recovered or traced. Several protest demonstrations have been held by local journalists and human rights activists, demanding his release, but to no avail.

On Tuesday last, a child and a lawyer were kidnapped for ransom from Hayatabad, the posh area of Peshawar. Both the families requested not to mention names of the kidnapped people, fearing that the kidnappers might kill them.