Kidnapping and hostage survival

Rise in kidnappings

THE downside of cellular technology is evident from the rise in cases of kidnapping in Karachi. The connection between the two lies in the kidnappers using cellphones to make calls to their victims’ families and demanding ransom. Not only is it difficult to trace a call from a cellphone, but with the unregulated sale of SIM cards it is hard to ascertain the identity of the cellphone owner. According to a story in this newspaper on Friday, the CPLC’s success rate in tackling kidnapping cases stood at 75 per cent in 2003 whereas today that figure has dropped to 70 per cent. The chief of the CPLC blames this on the fact that so many criminals get cellphone connections on fake identity papers; one estimate has it that 0.75 million SIM cards have been issued on fake papers. However, this is only one aspect of the problem. Despite tracking down a few members of a gang early this year, their organisation is still active. Another gang which kidnaps people and takes them to the tribal areas of the Frontier is also at large even though the provincial home department’s assistance has been sought in the matter. It clearly calls for a different strategy.

It is not just a few gangs known to the police that threaten people’s safety in Karachi. There are numerous incidents of people being held hostage in their cars and made to pay for their freedom. Such crime must be dealt with now before it reaches the alarming proportions it once did in 1990 when 79 cases were reported. The police, the CPLC and the Anti-Violent Crime Cell are working together in this regard but will need to step

up efforts, as well as coordinate with relevant departments, to find the men behind these heinous crimes and ensure that they are caught and punished.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/ed.htm

Kidnapping


THIS has reference to the letter written by S. Ausaf Hussain (June 14), who has carefully listed all the guidelines for a person about the do’s and don’ts of being a kidnap victim. His input is highly appreciated, for such guidelines are important in the state of uncertainty we live in.

There is no surety of our well-being and an air of tension surrounds us whenever one of our loved ones is never home on time or fails to respond to their cellphones.

I would further like to advise people not to use cellphones while they are driving or when their cars stop at the signal. This attracts kidnappers who assume such people to be rich and able to pay huge ransom payments. An acquaintance of mine was kidnapped while chatting on his cellphone and recovered three months later. The family went through sheer torture and agony.

FARYAL NAEEM WARIND
Karachi

http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/20/letted.htm#5


Kidnapping and hostage survival


THIS refers to the report, ‘Surge in kidnapping for ransom cases’, by S. Raza Hassan (June 8) and your editorial, ‘Rise in kidnapping’ (June 9). The report has focused on Karachi only whereas kidnapping for ransom is on the rise in other cities of the country as well, at a much higher rate than in Karachi.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for criminals throughout the world. The crime of kidnapping is usually committed against those individuals who fail to recognise their vulnerability to criminal confrontations or lack threat awareness and are ill-prepared to deal with the crime of kidnapping. Kidnapping literally means to carry off a person or persons by force or fraud in order to obtain a ransom. However, there may be other motives of kidnapping which include rape, murder, personal enmity, religious or political aim.

Being kidnapped is one of the most difficult and dangerous experiences. Victims are uncertain about their fate as to what will happen to them. They are not sure if they will be tortured or even killed while held hostage.

Kidnap victims are usually mistreated in the initial stage to bring them under control quickly. Verbal abuse and death threats are also given. A victim who can tolerate and remain calm will be successful. Once a victim under control and initial onslaught is over, he can expect reasonable treatment from his captors if he or she remains passive.

Women victims are always prone to being raped or sexually abused by their captors at any stage. Kidnappers are often nervous and excited during the initial stages of kidnapping. They want to succeed by any means to fulfil their mission. In such circumstances if the victim tries to resist or escape, the kidnapper can kill him. Any attempt at heroics will certainly result in victim’s death.

However, people should also know how to behave if they become hostage to a kidnapper and to survive under a hostage situation. Hostage survival is not a pleasant affair, but careful planning and behaviour as to how to react in such a situation can reduce stress and anxiety. A prisoner is a burden on the hostage -taker. He or she must be constantly guarded, fed and provided hygienic care. Kidnappers keep their victim alive for the sake of getting their ransom demands, but if their demands are not met or the police raid their hideout, they can kill their victims. Here are some suggestions which can be followed:

a. Hostages should not resist or attempt to fight back at the time of abduction unless they feel that success is sure.

b. Remain calm, time is on your side, the longer the incident lasts the greater the chances for getting away.

c. Cooperate with the kidnappers and follow their instructions to the best of your ability.

d. Avoid provocation, do not threaten or curse them.

e. Evaluate the situation and think intelligently and avoid panic or a foolish escape.

f. Hide yourself behind some hard cover if you notice that the police are rescuing you, as you may be injured or killed in the crossfire between the police and kidnappers.

g. If the captivity extends, hostages should try to look after their health and physical welfare by taking whatever food is provided by the kidnappers and by setting some indoor physical exercises. This will enable them to be physically fit and make them able to escape if a chance occurs.

h. Hostage should ask their captors to provide the medicine, which is a must for them if they are suffering from any disease which they require regularly to save their lives.

i. Be observant and mentally alert even if blindfolded.

There is a need to make the people aware regarding preventive measures against kidnapping and how to react under hostage situation. Merely publishing statistics of kidnapping incidents and telling reasons of declining rates of success in solving kidnapping for ransom cases will not be of any help to the people.

S.AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi

http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/14/letted.htm#5

Kidnapping & hostage survival

Kidnapping & hostage survival


I REFER to the letters of S. Ausaf Husain and Faryal Naeem Warind (June 14 and June 20) on kidnapping and would like to endorse the suggestions of the writers and add some important information as regards prevention of kidnapping.

The CPLC has played a vital role in combating the crime of kidnapping for ransom over the years with successful result. However, for the last two years the graph of kidnapping for ransom has gone up to some extent. The reason is the availability of prepaid connections of mobile phone without any documentation.

During investigation of cases, it is revealed that gangs of kidnappers are operating on scores of SIMs at one time, obtained on fake identities. This is the main hurdle faced by the CPLC and law enforcers in handling these cases and other heinous crimes.

The CPLC, from time to time, educates people about security measures vide public awareness programmes through the print media, public forums and its website: www.cplc.org.pk. Some of the important precautionary measures are listed hereunder which can be useful in avoiding a kidnapping situation.

a. Do not set patterns. Vary routes and timings when travelling/walking/ jogging or outing.

b. Use main roads. Avoid badly-lit areas, quiet areas or side alleys.

c. Remember, there is safety in numbers. Avoid going alone. When travelling long distance by an automobile, go in a convoy. Avoid back country roads.

d. When approaching a parked car, ensure that no suspicious person is around. Avoid sitting and waiting in the car.

e. Avoid using luxury or ostentatious cars.

f. Always let someone know your whereabouts.

g. Print visiting cards which do not show designation/position.

h. Be careful whilst inside and when leaving lockers/ banks/ATM.

i. Always install a digital telephone line with caller ID.

j. To avoid child abduction, never leave your child alone in a public place, stroller or car, not even for a minute. Don't let your child accept rides from strangers.

Lastly, if somebody from your family is kidnapped, be calm. You must inform the CPLC at 5683333/111or the police on 15 for assistance.

SHARFUDDIN MEMON
Chief, CPLC-CRC
Karachi

http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/01/letted.htm

Finding the missing Rani

By Zabe Azkar Hussain Karachi Two years have been passed but there are still no clues about the whereabouts of Shagufta Rani, wife of Qasier Sagheer Alam, who had claimed that his wife was kidnapped by Inspector Pervez Iqbal and others on May 24, 2005. Since then, Alam has moved heaven and earth to get his wife recovered. The woeful story of Alam began when he contracted court marriage to his beloved Rani in Karachi. However, the latter�s family did not approve of this match. It is alleged that the family used negative tactics against the young couple and influential family members backed by police officer, Iqbal, not only kidnapped Rani, but later claimed that she was killed. The case of the kidnapping of Rani was first exposed by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). The CPLC gathered all the necessary proof confirming the marriage and then took some legal measures to protect the right to life of the illegally detained Rani, who was believed to be held in Jhelum. Ironically, when the CPLC directed the police officer concerned not to back the violators of the law and produce Rani within two days or face criminal charges, the inspector ignored him and instead threatened Alam and his relatives with dire consequences. The CPLC believed that Iqbal had kidnapped Rani on May 24, 2005 from Karachi and rushed her to Jhelum. When the CPLC asked him to explain his actions, he first aksed for one week and then later presented a fake �Nikahnama� showing that Rani was already married to some other person. The CPLC then investigated the matter and came to a conclusion that Iqbal had allegedly misguided it and prepared a fake Nikahnama in order to victimise Alam and his family members. According to Alam, the day he married Rani in court and reached his uncle�s house, suddenly Iqbal along with another man appeared and started attacking the couple. The two armed men had taken Alam�s father hostage. According to Alam, they had tortured his father and brought him (by air) to Karachi to show the way to his house. Alam further alleged that the FIA Inspector snatched his NIC and other documents and also kidnapped his wife. What is unfortunate is that Alam tried to get a case lodged in the Aziz Bhatti Police Station and Shara-e-Faisal Police Station, but both stations refused to do so on the grounds that the registration of the case was �beyond their jurisdiction.� Alam kept on pursuing the case and his counsel Advocate Abid Akram also moved legal applications as a result of which the Aziz Bhatti police registered the case against the kidnappers. Later on a police party headed by investigation officer, Raja Ashraf went to the Punjab to nab the kidnappers. However, one of the accused Asghar fled and could not be arrested, whereas a maternal uncle of Rani, Zafar Iqbal, was taken into custody. Zafar surprisingly recorded a confessional statement that he had killed Rani. The police kept him under detention for a few days and then released him. Alam claims that because the police was bribed, they did not arrest Iqbal and at the same time released Zafar illegally. Another tragic aspect of the matter was the promotion of the accused Iqbal who despite being nominated in a kidnapping case was later promoted to DSP. After becoming DSP, he again targeted Alam, his cousin, Mohammad Talat, his brother Mohammad Nasir and some other family members by threatening with dire consequences. When contacted, Inspector Iqbal rejected all allegations saying �I am not involved in any kidnapping and I don�t know any thing about the �nikah� or the �nikahnama� and did not touch anybody including Alam, his father or Rani.� According to the despondent Alam, he, his parents and other family members had to face severe victimisation due to his marriage and the police in Karachi and Punjab kept on protecting the culprits under a so-called legal cover. He said he was still determined to find his wife, regardless of the fact that he is unable to bear the huge fees of his lawyers. According to Alam, there were a lot of lawyers who assured him of full assistance, but demanded huge sums in the name of fees. Hence, he had moved an application to the HRCP representatives who might take up the case on humanitarian grounds.