Top Hindu spiritual leader: Investigators clueless on high-profile kidnapping

Locals believe abduction is backed by influential people.

QUETTA: Investigators are clueless on the high-profile kidnapping of a top Hindu spiritual leader in Balochistan.

Eighty-two-year-old Lakki Chand Garji, the maharaj of the historic Kali Mandar of Kalat, was kidnapped along with four other people while he was on his way to officiate a wedding ceremony. Armed people, believed to be locals, intercepted their vehicle near Surab and kidnapped all four at gunpoint.

However, two people were freed, allowing them to inform people that the top spiritual leader of Hindus in Balochistan had been taken hostage by unidentified people.

In recent weeks, there have been more than 22 incidents of kidnapping for ransom and hold-ups by gangsters on the Kalat-Surab section and Kalat-Mongechar section of the RCD Highway.

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani visited Kalat last week and promised early recovery of the Hindu leader, but any progress is yet to be seen.

People in the province say ordinary criminals cannot commit such a high-profile kidnapping and claim that the kidnappers must have support from influential people.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2011.