SUKKUR, March 7: A five-year-old boy was kidnapped in Jacobabad on Sunday evening. Prithvi Kumar left his home to buy toffees from a shop but was whisked away by an unidentified motorcyclist.

Police was informed about the incident and claimed that they were making efforts to recover the boy. DPO of Jacobabad Pervez Chandio could not be contacted despite efforts.

Kidnapping for ransom, particularly of children and other people belonging to a minority community, is rampant in Jacobabad and neighbouring Kandhkot-Kashmore.

According to media reports, 35 people — 15 of them children and most of them belonging to the minority community -- were kidnapped in different areas of Kandhkot and Kashmore since October 2010 to January 2011. However, they were later released on payment of ransom.

DPO of Kashmore Syed Asad Raza Shah blamed the relatives of the kidnap victims for not cooperating with police and not informing them about kidnap incidents immediately.—Correspondent