LAHORE: DIG Investigation Athar Ismail has strongly rejected the rumours regarding the kidnap of children in the city, saying that some elements were spreading fake reports on social media for personal gains.

Talking to media persons here on Monday, he said some ‘mafias’ were spreading fake stories on social media that many gangs of criminals were kidnapping children from the streets of the city.

He rejected the reports and asked the people not to give such rumours importance as they were just creating panic and misleading the law enforcers.

Sharing an official data in this regard, the DIG said in last month [September], 96 cases of kidnap of children were lodged in various police stations of the city.

During the course of investigation, he said, it transpired that all the children had run away due to family issues.

Many of them were recovered later from the residences of their close relatives, he said adding that some were recovered by the police from parks, bus stands, shrines and other such public places.

There was also a large number of children who were reluctant to go to school and they later disappeared to avoid punishment from teachers and parents. He said in September last year, total 95 cases of kidnap of children were lodged in the provincial capital which is almost similar to current situation.

“All the 96 cases of kidnap of kids lodged in September have been resolved,” the DIG claimed.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2022