LARKANA: Child-lifting gangs have become active in upper Sindh in collaboration with big wigs, says Anwar Khokhar who runs the Khidmat-i-Masoom Trust, an NGO focusing on recovery of missing children.

Mr Khokhar, a recipient of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2003, told Dawn that the gangs were particularly active in Nazar Mohalla, Allahabad and Muradwahan (Larkana city), Golodaro near Khirthar bridge on Shikarpur-Jacobabad road, Luhar’s bridge on Shikarpur-Ratodero road and Sobhodero, Daraza and Arija in Khairpur district, besides Garhi Khairo and Chaman in Balochistan.

He said the main reason for juvenile delinquency is torture to children among the poor families. The frustrated parents also adopt this method due to unbearable economic pressure and their failure to provide two square meals to their families.

These children, he added, fall into the trap of child lifters’ who later sell them to other gangs. Child lifters also roam around video game shops to look for potential victims and late school goers are easy traps for these gangs, he said.

People belonging to a certain ethnic group and pushing carts in Larkana City are reportedly involved in this trade, he added, regretting that the police let-off an accused, Majeed, on February 26, 2007, who was arrested on the charge of kidnapping a boy, Israrzada, from Sadiqabad.

Two gangs were busted and those behind it were arrested on August 20, 2005 and May 14, 2004 but those arrested were released as complainants and witnesses did not record evidences, Mr Khokhar said, adding that this practice has provided the criminals space to operate freely.

However, contesting the claim of Mr Khokhar, District Police Officer, Larkana, Azim Tunio, said no gang of child kidnappers is operating in the district and children go missing only due to parent’s carelessness.