Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072751020200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Disturbing trend

Are offenders in the city emulating the organised gangs of criminals from Bihar to make money by resorting to kidnaps for ransom?

Abduction of an employee of Satyam Computers and an eight-year-old boy by different gangs on a single day on Tuesday raised these doubts.

Having secured safe release of the two victims within 24 hours, the city police brushed aside theories of the abductors targeting IT sector or a particular company. But the well-hatched abduction plans in the two cases and the precision with which they were executed amply prove the offenders cannot be taken lightly.

Whether the police treat these cases seriously or not, it is better that vulnerable people take adequate precautions because the prime accused in the Satyam Computers case turned out to be his car driver!

MARRI RAMU