Pak Hindus threaten poll boycott over kidnappings

Islamabad: Hindus in two districts of Pakistan's Balochistan province on Wednesday warned that the minority community would boycott the upcoming general election if authorities fail to trace three kidnapped Hindu traders even as armed men abducted another businessman's son.

The panchayats of Jaffarabad and Nasirabad districts demanded that the government should trace Kundan Lal, Parkash Kumar and Dilip Kumar — who were kidnapped by four armed men on Saturday — within the next two days.

If this is not done, the Hindu community would boycott the February 18 parliamentary polls, Mukhia Manak Chand told a Hindu panchayat meeting in Dera Murad Jamali town.

Hours after the meeting, four armed men kidnapped Ravi Kumar, the son of rice mill owner Seth Haripal Das, in Jaffarabad on Wednesday night. Police said the armed men broke into the Baloch Rice Mill and abducted Kumar.

Police cordoned off the area and launched efforts to trace the kidnapped youth.

Manak Chand said the kidnapping of the men had created restlessness and panic among Hindus and this could be resolved only through the early release of the traders. He also emphasised the need for measures for the security of the Hindu community.

The three traders were kidnapped from a Jacobabad-bound van in Jaffarabad district. They had come to Dera Murad Jamali on a business trip from Jacobabad. The kidnappers, who were travelling in the same van, stopped the vehicle and abducted the traders at gun point.

Jaffarabad district police chief Sohail Ahmed Sheikh said 'strenuous efforts' are being made to trace the traders as soon as possible. The police investigation was proceeding in the right direction and would soon lead "to the gang involved in this heinous crime," he said.

The federal interior ministry has taken a 'keen interest' in the case and directed the Inspector General of Balochistan Police to ensure the early release of the traders and to take 'concrete measures' for the security of the Hindu community in the province, sources told state-run APP news agency.