Bihar: Killing field of children in India

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Bihar: Killing field of children in India

September 6,2006

PATNA (ICNS) -- The northern Indian state of Bihar, often described

as the most lawless state in the country, has a dubious distinction:

some 900 children have been abducted, and nearly 40 of them killed

since 2001.

This frightening figure has been released by the Chief Secretary of

Bihar G S Kang in the Patna High Court.

According to an affidavit filed by Kang in the Court, some 40

abducted children have been killed by abductors in Bihar in last

five years and 98 abducted children are still missing. Kang filed

the affidavit in response to a public interest litigation on the

abductions of children, businessmen and professionals.

The affidavit says 904 children have been abducted since 2001 in

Bihar, mostly for ransom, by local gangs.

While out of the 904 children abducted since 2001, 766 were rescued,

40 were killed by kidnappers and 98 were still missing.

Official said 475 children were abducted in the Patna region alone --

highest in the state. While 391 of them were rescued, 61 were still

missing and 23 were killed.

The Muzaffarpur region ranked second with 241 children abducted, 209

rescued, 16 missing and 16 children murdered during the period.

Similarly Bhagalpur region ranked third with 125 children abducted,

104 rescued, 16 missing and 5 children were killed by abductors.

It was followed by Darbhanga region with 63 children abducted, 52

rescued, 5 missing and 6 children murdered.

Worried over the rising abductions of children, the High Court has

asked the state Government to ensure the arrest of over 5000

absconding criminals by November 6 this year.

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=3286