Fear of Child lifting gangs in Purmendal block

Police say no such report; locals allege one child was snatched from house

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 08: Rumours of child lifting gang operating rural area has created a fear psychosis among people leaving in villages across region particularly Purmandal block of Jammu.

According to sources for last few months there have been reports that children are being lifted by some people which has created fear among the people in several villages. Though no cases have been reported to the police, but law enforcement agencies have also increased their patrolling in the areas, were people have complained of seeing some unidentified persons.

Though Jammu and Kashmir does not fall in the route of women and child traffickers but due to influx of thousands of labourers from states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Harayana, there have been reports of some criminal gangs using children for begging purposes in urban centres of Jammu and Srinagar.

“Local people in several villages around Jammu are living under terror fearing that their children may fall prey to child lifters. Local of Purmandal area say that past few weeks thieves have targets several localities. But so far no child lifting case has been reported”, said a official.

Talking to TNI, Purmandal Sarpanch Raman Sharma said that few weeks back an incident of child lifting was reported in the area after which the rumour has spread. “There is constant fear among the people of the area and they keep watch during night hours to check over any such incident” he said.

Deepika Singh Rajawat a child right activists said that the police department should take some strict action against these Child Lifting Gang. “However there is no role of any Non Government Organization (NGO) as we only provide awareness among people about this. We work for rehabilitation of children” Deepika said.

When contacted Station House Officer (SHO) Purmandal, Satish Kumar said that the police department have not register any such case so far, but there is fear of thieves which have struck several houses in Purmendal an surrounding villages.

He further said that according to local there are some people who does not belongs to this area involved in the robberies in the Purmandal area.