CPLC, AVCC bust gang of kidnappers plaguing Karachi

KARACHI: The year 2016 began with an old menace raising its head again in the southern metropolis; the return of short-term kidnappings. First reported in 2013 when on average 10-15 cases of short-term kidnapping were reported on a daily basis, the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah noted the return of the short-term kidnapping phenomenon in February and instructed the Inspector General of Police to tackle the problem at all costs. 

According to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), that has played an instrumental role in tackling the menace of kidnapping for ransom in the Karachi for decades, the gang involved in recent short term kidnappings has been eliminated and their latest victim rescued without paying any ransom amount. 

Short-term kidnapping; when abductees are held at gunpoint and driven around for several hours in their own vehicle while ransom is arranged by the families, has been difficult to crack down against. Due to the short-term nature of the abduction law enforcers faced an uphill task in tracing out the criminals and their hideouts. The ransom collected was usually whatever could be had – from ATM withdrawals, luxury watches and jewelry, to anything of value that could be paid to secure the abductees’ release.

The duration of the kidnappings in 2016 saw a stretch in the number of hours a victim was held. The first incident took place on January 6th when Mr. Hamid* was kidnapped from Hussainabad, Karachi an was held until the next day when a family member paid a ransom of Rs. 8.5 lacs ($8,500) in Lyari and secured his release. 

The second incident of the year took place on the 24th of the same month, again the ransom was collected within 48 hours and the victim was released. 

A third case was reported only a day after the second victim was released. This time the the victim was kidnapped from Shadman Town and the ransom demanded was Rs 5 million ($50,000). 

In all cases the ransom was collected in Lyari and the kidnappers demanded that it be dropped off by a female member of the family. 

With pressure to tackle the menace at all costs from the highest provincial office, multiple Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) were working to trace the criminals behind these crimes. 

Fighting Crime with Technology

According to the CPLC, the organization worked closely with the agencies involved.  In a hand out it stated, that the kidnappers were careful not to make any mistakes which made the task more challenging. 

Using voice recognition software, tracking software as well as ground intelligence the CPLC along with the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) of the Sindh Police traced out the kidnappers' hideout and conducted an early morning raid on Thursday. 

In the ensuing gunfight that followed, five kidnappers were killed while their latest victim Mr. Zahid* was rescued without harm. 

According to reliable sources that wish not to be named, there were two gangs involved in short term kidnapping in the cities, Central and West zones. The CPLC along with agencies had busted the first gang last month. The latest encounter has eliminated the remaining gang involved in this heinous crime.

*Certain names have been changed in this story to hide the identities of the victims