The Khyati Shrestha abduction and murder case has rocked the nation to the Extremes of anguished soul searching. No sane explanation for such can be found. Any act of taking another’s life is condemnable but more so when a teacher

abducts his student to extract ransom money, and also slaughters the victim in a pre-meditated cold blooded venture. For the past few years, the increase in the number of armed outfits all over the country has seen a dramatic rise in the number of abductions for reasons to settle scores or, more importantly, to feast on the ransom payments that the kidnappers collect. To take a sample, the Metropolitan Police Crime Division has said that the Kathmandu Valley is becoming a prime location for abductions, and there were 29 such cases in the past one year. However, according to the police, most of the cases are not reported fearing reprisals from the kidnappers. The abduction pattern shows that the victims are mostly students and from the business community. The majority of the cases revolve around the criminal-minded to squeeze as much money as possible from the victim’s family or business house. It is greed that feeds the criminals to take this nefarious activity for the ease with which they can operate in times when political instability, together with government inaction, are incentives.

It is true that the police department is not lagging behind in reaching many a masterminds of various abduction cases reported, but they are more like flashes in the pan. As the majority of the cases are not reported, the police cannot

be blamed, but the fact remains that the law and order situation, not only in the Kathmandu Valley, but elsewhere in the country is far from satisfactory. The scaled down police dynamism maybe a result of the lackluster performance of the past government, as well as the government that is yet to have a firm grip now. Besides, there may be political patronage under the guise of which abductions are taking place, but they generally prove elusive to the law enforcement agency. The combined effect of all these elements have seen the spurt in abduction cases in the past few years. It is a very alarming situation for which the Home Ministry has to think seriously on the strategies to implement that only can give

security to the people.

In this the police department has much to say. They pin the blames on the volatile political situation that has given the boost to the criminals to get away scot-free even with the most heinous of crimes. Most of the abductions are masterminded by kingpins somewhere far from the actual site of the crime,

with only a few being undertaken by individuals with a criminal bent of mind. It is abductions that end violently that are of greater concern especially if the victims are minors. In all this, the government and its agencies, particularly the police office,

must play a more responsible role focusing on how abductions could be prevented by implementing the relevant action plans, updated regularly. The parents and guardians also ought to be extra vigilant when their wards are concerned. The biggest responsibility is, however, for the police force to shoulder.