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Cyberabad turns abductors’ haven
Despite repeated assurances by the government and the police that they would deal criminals with an iron hand, there seems to no decrease in criminal activities in the city, especially kidnapping.
Poor kids kidnapped for trafficking, child labour, begging and slavery
Hyderabad: Despite repeated assurances by the government and the police that they would deal criminals with an iron hand, there seems to no decrease in criminal activities in the city, especially kidnapping. If official records are anything to go by, Cyberabad is fast turning into a haven for kidnappers, making the otherwise IT hub an abductors hub.
In the recent past, Cyberabad has experienced a spurt in the incidents of abduction of small children for ransom, trafficking, beggary, labour and human organs’ trade. Reports show that Cyberabad police are facing a tough time due to worsening law and order situation arising out of successive kidnappings for ransom and even killing of children when kidnappers' demands are not met.
While Hyderabad witnessed 74 kidnapping cases in 2012, Cyberabad reported 134 such cases the same year. The figures jumped to 120 and 170 in 2013 in both the commissonerates respectively. According to the data sourced from the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), there is a steep rise of 27 per cent in kidnapping cases under Cyberabad limits.
Till August this year, as many as 75 kidnapping cases have been recorded under Cyberabad Commissionerate which include Alwal, Meerpet, Hayathnagar, KPHB, LB Nagar, Saroornagar, Pahidishareef, Kushaiguda, Sanathnagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Vanasthalipuram, Madhapur, Keesara and Uppal.
Out of 22 kidnapping cases registered in Alwal, only 12 cases have been solved so far, according to sources. However, conviction rate is pretty low if the SCRB data is any indication.
When asked about the recent increase in child kidnapping cases, DCP, LB Nagar, P Viswa Prasad said only two such cases were reported in Vanasthalipuram and Meerpet. “We are identifying government schools and putting enforcement measures to curb such incidents.” the DCP said.
“In many cases, the accused get clean chit from courts due to poor investigation by police. In some cases, victims and their families turn hostile, leading to weakening of the case and acquittal,” State Commission for Protection Child Rights (SCPCR) member Achyutha Rao said.
“Poor kids are kidnapped often for trafficking, child labour, marriage, begging, slavery, prostitution, etc. It is hardly surprising that poor families rarely report a missing child,” Rao added.
“When children from rich families are kidnapped, often the accused is known to the family. If there is demand for ransom, most of the families pay and do not report the case to the police. Their only concern is the safety of their child, which is understandable but on the negative aspect, the criminals remain unidentified and go scot-free,” a city-based social activist explained.
“Business rivalry among realtors is the prime reason for such abduction cases and the number of cases has increased considerably post-recession in Cyberabad limits,” a senior police officer said.
