LAHORE: Three children were kidnapped from the a vicinity of the city – Badami Bagh - during the last three weeks, sending their parents in immense shock and grief.

The kidnap of the children of poor families from the radius of one kilometre of Badami Bagh has also sent a wave of panic among locals who in anguish gathered on the road to protest the police failure to resolve the cases.

“It is the height of negligence that the local police were unmoved towards the plight of parents and acted at a time when the criminals kidnapped third child from the same area during a short period of three weeks,” Rafaqat Ali, father of a kidnapped baby, told Dawn.

Rafaqat earns his livelihood by running a donkey cart.

The other children also hailed from poor families and police could not recover them.

Of the three children, Sameer, 12, was allegedly abducted by unidentified suspect(s) on Friday. Umair (8) and Daim (2) were abducted on June 29 and June 18, respectively.

Three children kidnapped from Badami Bagh in as many weeks

All the three went to a local shop and did not return home, the relatives said. Police had lodged cases against unidentified suspects.

Mr Rafaqat lamented that a Badami Bagh police team visited the protest and tried to console them saying that only the kidnap of babies for ransom is treated as heinous crime.

Talking to Dawn, the Lahore capital city police officer, however, considered the kidnap of two-year-old Daim a serious matter saying that the other two might have left their homes due to certain reasons.

He said a total of nine children had been kidnapped or disappeared this year from the same area. Of them six had returned home on their own.

“It is normal that the children used to leave home due to certain family issues and spend time in and around Data Darbar.”

In the three fresh abduction cases, the CCPO said, a team headed by the Investigations SSP had been formed. The police officials from CIA were also part of the team, he said.

SHAHBAZ: The chief minister on Monday reviewed the law and order situation and directed that the gang involved in kidnapping of children be traced at the earliest.

Speaking at a high-level meeting, he said kidnap cases should be analysed and a report be submitted within seven days, says a handout.

The chief minister consoled the parents of the kidnapped children, who were also present in the meeting, and assured them safe recovery of their children.

He directed that an effective strategy be adopted for curbing the incidence of kidnapping.

Shahbaz Sharif said he was deeply grieved at the loss of lives due to wheelie. He expressed his displeasure over failure to take timely action to control wheelie.

He said an effective strategy be evolved to control wheelie before Aug 14. The Punjab IG and the home secretary gave a briefing on law and order.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2016