Daily Times

LAHORE: The mysterious kidnappings of children has created panic and terror among the parents, as they have started door-to-door campaigns in their areas to remain vigilant in the prevailing circumstances, besides disallowing their children to go out alone.

The incidents of kidnappings of children were increasing in the provincial capital, as more than 300 children have been kidnapped during the first six months of current year.

With the police seemingly not doing their bit to trace the kids, families are making their own efforts to trace their children, who belong mostly to poor and migrant families. The families suspect that their children are being trafficked to other states, while the police have failed to provide any relief to them.

As many 319 cases of kidnappings were registered during 2015. Sources said that according to a report presented to police high ups, 29 abducted children, who were kidnapped in different areas of the city, still remained untraced. Sources revealed that maximum kidnapping cases of children were registered in Badami Bagh Police Station, adding that the police high-ups constituted 30 different teams of 100 police officials under the supervision of four SPs to take action against criminals involved in these incidents as well as to recover the abducted children.

On Wednesday morning, Jannat Bibi of Fleming Road, with a mission to create awareness regarding the prevailing kidnapping spree in the city, knocked the doors of her neighbours and inquired about their children. She visited several houses and advised the parents not to let their children go out alone. She also advised local shopkeepers that if they found any child alone in a street, they should stop them immediately and send them home or inform their parents.

When some locals questioned her that why she seemed so worried about children, she said that people belonging to poor families do not read newspaper or watch TV channels, which revealed that at least 207 children have been kidnapped till date.

During the Daily Times survey, locals were of the views that some unknown people were behind the recent kidnappings, adding that the children were abducted so they could be shifted to other provinces, where they would be trained for the purpose of carrying criminal activities.

Locals said that the children aged between 10 to 15 could be used for the purpose of organ smuggling, especially kidneys. However, majority of the people urged the government to take action against this serious issue and asked the police as well as other concerned departments to take some solid steps to eliminate racket soon.