Dua Mangi’s kidnapping: Investigators suspect militants could be behind kidnapping

KARACHI: The police and other investigators seem to have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough in the investigations into Dua Mangi's kidnapping, who returned home after a week-long ordeal. However, they suspect that a militant or a separatist group could be behind the kidnapping to generate funds.

The investigators confided to The News that they have recorded the statements of Dua Mangi and her family but have so far found no significant clues that could help the investigators in tracing and arresting the gang of kidnappers. Dua statement however suggested that the kidnappers were professionals, they conceded.

Mangi in her statement, told the investigators comprising officials of police, security and intelligence agencies that she could not see any of the criminals as she was kept blindfolded throughout the six days of her custody. “I did not see the face of anyone [kidnappers],” she disclosed in her recorded statement. “I and Haris were walking by the road side after having tea at Master Chai Wala when suddenly two men grabbed me from behind and shoved me into their car while putting a hand on my mouth to prevent me from screaming for help.”

The law student confirmed hearing a gunshot when she was pushed in the car and added the kidnappers changed the car thrice and continued to drive over a long distance while keeping her blindfolded the entire time. “I do not have any idea of how long they would have driven while taking me away.”

The 20-year-old victim of kidnapping told the investigators that they kept her blindfolded during the entire episode she was in the kidnappers' custody, besides keeping her hands and feet chained. The only time when her eyes were left briefly uncovered was when she was given food. “I could not identify the voice of the people who used to bring food. Every time it appeared to be a different person with a different voice,” she told the joint panel of investigators. They also rarely talked to her. She said they even "kept her ears plugged with earphones to prevent her from listening to and identifying their voices."

The investigators who were expecting to get some definite clues about the gang of kidnappers and learn from their behaviour and working pattern, were unhappy after recording Dua's statement, saying they could not find anything concrete about the kidnappers. A senior officer privy to the statement told The News. “Unfortunately, we could not get any strong leads from Dua Mangi’s statement except that the kidnappers handled the whole affair as clever professionals and were careful not to leave any evidence,” the officer explained. “We are comparing the Dua Mangi kidnapping case with that of Bisma's kidnapping as we now believe professionals and trained kidnappers were involved in Bisma’s kidnapping also.” The investigators now suspect that the same group may have orchestrated both the kidnappings from the Defence Housing Authority. Both the cases have similarities. The kidnapping gang is generating funds through abductions from the posh localities, the officer suspected. “Through from kidnappings, funds are being generated but the pertinent question is who is generating the funds and for what or whom?,” another officer questioned. “We are also verifying the involvement of any separatist or militant group behind the kidnappings.”

On Nov 30, Dua was kidnapped at gunpoint from Karachi’s DHA Bukhari Commercial Area and her friend Haris was shot multiple times when both were strolling along the roadside. The CCTV footage showed Dua and Haris walking down the street minutes before the incident. In the other footage, the kidnappers are seen taking the abductee with them. Haris, critically wounded in the incident is under treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital.