Growing
number of abductions worries home
Qatar: 5/5/2005
The Peninsula
Qatar's Leading English Daily
MOIZ MANNAN
A NON-RESIDENT Indian
and his brother are kidnapped at a village on the
outskirts of Bharuch in Gujarat and released on a
ransom of Rs2.5m; an Abu Dhabi-based businessman is
lured and held by kidnappers in Delhi for a ransom
of $2m; even after coughing up Rs1m, a UK-based NRI
is still hoping for the return of her father who kidnapped
in Assam; a New Jersey-based Indian has been missing
for days in Vadodara.
These and several such incidents have set the alarm
bells ringing for non-resident Indians who fear they
may not be in for exactly the welcome they expected
upon arrival. A lot has been written about the recent
spate of kidnappings in Bihar, but most of the brouhaha
was created by Lalu-baiting politicians. Who cares
for the ‘loaded’ NRIs?
Among the ‘top 10 kidnap countries’, India
ranked seventh after Colombia, Mexico, the former
Soviet Union, Brazil, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
Ecuador, Venezuela and South Africa were also in the
list.
Last month, a Special Judge, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi,
sentenced to life four persons for kidnapping an NRI
businessman for ransom of $2m on March 11, 2001. The
judge found them guilty of kidnapping the Abu Dhabi-based
Tikket Sidhique.
The case was unique in several respects. It was registered
by the Central Bureau of Investigation on a complaint
from the wife of the victim with the then ambassador
of India in Abu Dhabi. The FIR was lodged in a foreign
country with the envoy. The victim had traveled to
Delhi for business purposes at the behest and allurement
of his kidnappers. While he was kidnapped in India
the ransom amount was to be paid in Dubai.
According to CBI sources, the case was a classic
example of transnational organised crime and the conspiracy
was the handiwork of several criminals based abroad.
Sidhique arrived at the Indira Gandhi International
Airport of Delhi on March 11, 2001, on the invitation
of one Vijay Rathore, whom he had never met. Claiming
to be a prosperous Delhi businessman, Rathore had
contacted him repeatedly on his mobile phone and through
e-mail inviting him to Delhi for business negotiations.
Even though Sidhique was not sure what Rathore’s
business interest was, the thought that he has been
sought out by Rathore was enough to make him undertake
the journey.
In a massive hunt operation code named ‘Op Desert
Safari,’ the CBI and Special Cell officials stormed
the building in Sarvapriya Vihar, South Delhi, where
the victim was being kept hostage. In the operation
three of the kidnappers died and the other four were
arrested. Sidhique was rescued.
Not so fortunate has been UK-based businessman Protul
Deb. His daughter Shipra arrived in India last month
for the third time to appeal for help in tracing Protul
who was abducted in Assam a year ago. Shipra’s
father, 67-year-old Protul Deb, left the UK to come
back to India in 2000 and set up a bamboo business
in Assam. Four years later, he was kidnapped reportedly
by the United Liberation Front and there’s been
no news of him since then.
”I met several officials including the Home
Minister and the CM of Assam. At the end of the meetings,
they agreed the matter will be expedited in the form
of CBI enquiry,” Shipra was quoted as having
said. The family has already paid a ransom of Rs1m
in two instalments to the rebel outfit. The Deb family
has also announced a reward of Rs1m for anyone who
gives information about Protul, but so far there has
been no response. The family blames the local police
for the delay in investigations.
Although the abduction of NRIs or their dependents
has not yet become a trend or a phenomenon, observers
fear the time may be near, particularly in the less
lawful states of India. The socio-economic disparities
are rapidly growing, and in direct proportion to the
unabashed lures of consumerism. More and more frustrated
unemployed youths in India are taking to crime and
NRIs are among the fattest and softest targets.
The danger has not gone unnoticed. In the wake of
the Protul Deb abduction, a group of NRIs has already
launched a letter campaign to pressure Indian authorities
to care more for their safety.
“We,
NRIs are very honest, hard worker, sincere from inside
to help our brothers and sisters in India and make
‘India Shinning’,” says one NRI activist.
“In return, if NRIs are being cheated, tortured
or kidnapped and specially no help from police in
this kind of situations- there will be a great loss
for future investment in India by NRIs and foreign
companies. Only one case of kidnapping… makes
a difference.”
Gary Singh,
another NRI activist, sounds really concerned when
he says: “We humbly request to all IPS, IAS (officials),
and judges of India, to please take immediate steps
for the safety of all NRIs. God has given you a great
power for the welfare of more than a billion people.”
Now, while there might not have been too much of
a divine intervention in empowering the officials,
they are certainly powerful enough to ensure the safety
of the people they ‘govern.’ Having said
that, the non-residents too, particularly those who
come from the zero-crime Gulf countries, should realise
the need to care more for their own safety and not
stand out as red herrings for the abductors to come
and hook.
