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167216
Thu, 03/10/2011 - 14:32
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Trafficking of persons with disability for forced begging
Karachi, March 10, 2011 (PPI): A large number of persons with physical disabilities are being abducted from Sindh and trafficked abroad for forced begging, a report has revealed. Society for Protection of Rights of Children SPARC, which conducted a fact finding visit to Khairpur and Shikarpur districts of Sindh in February last following police operation against the gang of human traffickers involved in trafficking of disabled persons including children to Iran and Gulf countries, has compiled the report containing interviews with the victims and families, persons involved in the crime and police officers.
The reports of human trafficking for begging came to surface on February 10 when Khairpur police responding to the call rushed to the spot and saved Sajjad Chadhar, a 20-year disable person, who was being kidnapped by Mumtaz Ujan and Badaruddin Buledi, the member of a gang involved in trafficking of persons with disability to Iran for forced beggary.
Subsequently through a major crackdown, police succeeded in arresting other members of gang including Begoo, Deedar, Sarang, Laik, Abdul Wahab and Khadim, all Jafri by caste, belonging to district Shikarpur and Kumb and Tando Masti towns of Khairpur district. They revealed that one Sarag Jafri is the ring leader.
“The accused have admitted that disabled persons are transported to Iran for beggary. The police have been informed that 200 to 300 disabled persons are trafficked where they are forced for beggary in front of mosques and shrines in Iran,” Khadim Hussain Rind, District Police Officer, Khairpur told.
Very next day to the police operation against human traffickers, 55 years old Lal Pari Gopang, the resident of Kumb Taluka of Khairpur, had registered compliant against Begoo Jafri for the kidnapping of Raham Ali Gopang, her 28-year old disabled nephew. She told police that kidnappers transported Raham Ali to Iran and are demanding one hundred thousand rupees for his return.
Begoo admitted that Raham Ali had been transported to Iran and agreed to manage his recovery and within three days Raham Ali reunited with the family.
Meanwhile, on 14 February in Tando Allahyar District police arrested three accused Dhani Bux, Wakeel and Ms. Sabhai and recovered four disabled persons that were being transported to Iran. Muneer Khuhro, the District Police Officer disclosed that arrested members belonged to the same gang arrested in Khairpur.
The organized gang, spread all over the province, use different methods for trafficking of disabled persons. Often, the trafficker after identification of disabled person develop link with their parents and lure them through offering lucrative package including advance money. All the arrested persons have admitted that they were involved in the deal between Sarag, the ring leader, and parents of the disabled persons. “I had settled deal with Lal Pari, the aunty of Raham Ali and paid her Rs.20000/- in advance and promised to share fifty percent of the amount earned through beggary. But after some time she started demanding more money that we were not able to pay her. Consequently, she approached police and managed plot for my arrest,” said Begoo Jafri, arrested member of the gang.
Similar was the statement of Badaruddin Lohar, who was arrested on spot when he was kidnapping Sajad Chadhar. “We met with the father of Sajad and offered him Rs.10000/- in advance and convinced that in Iran his son can earn more than the amount he earns here. After taking money, his father disappeared therefore we tried to force Sajad to accompany us for travelling to Iran. We are the middleman. Actually the main dealer is Sarag Jafri who manages transportation and accommodation in Iran and takes money of beggary.”
The news about the kidnappings of disabled persons has created fear and sense of insecurity among the disabled persons living in different parts of the province. In Sanghar district some six months back, Dilber Khos a fifty year old disabled person was kidnapped. “As a result almost all the disabled beggars disappeared for a long time for fear of being kidnapped,” Mumtaz Mangi, president of All Sanghar Handicapped Association (ASHA).
Dilber Khoso was kidnapped by the same gang which also included a young girl. Recalling the incident, Dilber Khoso shared that they offered him money and promised to marry with girl if he joins them. Thus they picked him in a vehicle and offered something to eat so he became unconscious. “I was transported to Iran by them and forced to beg in different cities. Incidentally, one day Iranian police raided the house. All the persons slipped away and police after investigation transported me back to Pakistan.”Mujahid Shaikh, 25-year old disabled person was the member of a family living in a camp established for flood affected persons in Ranipur District Khairpur was kidnapped by Kashmir Jafri in August 2010. Mujahid Shaikh however managed comeback and has started begging at the railway crossing in Khairpur. But he is worried about the fate of other persons with disability who used to live with him in Iran. He put hand inside his pocket and showed some Iranian currency. “This is the only amount that I had when I returned from Iran. The kidnappers are ruthless they even did not allow me to come back to see dead body of my mother. There are hundreds of persons with disability including children living in custody of Jafri in Iran. Help them to get release from the bondage,” Mujahid Shaikh helplessly requested the police.
The reports of human trafficking for begging came to surface on February 10 when Khairpur police responding to the call rushed to the spot and saved Sajjad Chadhar, a 20-year disable person, who was being kidnapped by Mumtaz Ujan and Badaruddin Buledi, the member of a gang involved in trafficking of persons with disability to Iran for forced beggary.
Subsequently through a major crackdown, police succeeded in arresting other members of gang including Begoo, Deedar, Sarang, Laik, Abdul Wahab and Khadim, all Jafri by caste, belonging to district Shikarpur and Kumb and Tando Masti towns of Khairpur district. They revealed that one Sarag Jafri is the ring leader.
“The accused have admitted that disabled persons are transported to Iran for beggary. The police have been informed that 200 to 300 disabled persons are trafficked where they are forced for beggary in front of mosques and shrines in Iran,” Khadim Hussain Rind, District Police Officer, Khairpur told.
Very next day to the police operation against human traffickers, 55 years old Lal Pari Gopang, the resident of Kumb Taluka of Khairpur, had registered compliant against Begoo Jafri for the kidnapping of Raham Ali Gopang, her 28-year old disabled nephew. She told police that kidnappers transported Raham Ali to Iran and are demanding one hundred thousand rupees for his return.
Begoo admitted that Raham Ali had been transported to Iran and agreed to manage his recovery and within three days Raham Ali reunited with the family.
Meanwhile, on 14 February in Tando Allahyar District police arrested three accused Dhani Bux, Wakeel and Ms. Sabhai and recovered four disabled persons that were being transported to Iran. Muneer Khuhro, the District Police Officer disclosed that arrested members belonged to the same gang arrested in Khairpur.
The organized gang, spread all over the province, use different methods for trafficking of disabled persons. Often, the trafficker after identification of disabled person develop link with their parents and lure them through offering lucrative package including advance money. All the arrested persons have admitted that they were involved in the deal between Sarag, the ring leader, and parents of the disabled persons. “I had settled deal with Lal Pari, the aunty of Raham Ali and paid her Rs.20000/- in advance and promised to share fifty percent of the amount earned through beggary. But after some time she started demanding more money that we were not able to pay her. Consequently, she approached police and managed plot for my arrest,” said Begoo Jafri, arrested member of the gang.
Similar was the statement of Badaruddin Lohar, who was arrested on spot when he was kidnapping Sajad Chadhar. “We met with the father of Sajad and offered him Rs.10000/- in advance and convinced that in Iran his son can earn more than the amount he earns here. After taking money, his father disappeared therefore we tried to force Sajad to accompany us for travelling to Iran. We are the middleman. Actually the main dealer is Sarag Jafri who manages transportation and accommodation in Iran and takes money of beggary.”
The news about the kidnappings of disabled persons has created fear and sense of insecurity among the disabled persons living in different parts of the province. In Sanghar district some six months back, Dilber Khos a fifty year old disabled person was kidnapped. “As a result almost all the disabled beggars disappeared for a long time for fear of being kidnapped,” Mumtaz Mangi, president of All Sanghar Handicapped Association (ASHA).
Dilber Khoso was kidnapped by the same gang which also included a young girl. Recalling the incident, Dilber Khoso shared that they offered him money and promised to marry with girl if he joins them. Thus they picked him in a vehicle and offered something to eat so he became unconscious. “I was transported to Iran by them and forced to beg in different cities. Incidentally, one day Iranian police raided the house. All the persons slipped away and police after investigation transported me back to Pakistan.”Mujahid Shaikh, 25-year old disabled person was the member of a family living in a camp established for flood affected persons in Ranipur District Khairpur was kidnapped by Kashmir Jafri in August 2010. Mujahid Shaikh however managed comeback and has started begging at the railway crossing in Khairpur. But he is worried about the fate of other persons with disability who used to live with him in Iran. He put hand inside his pocket and showed some Iranian currency. “This is the only amount that I had when I returned from Iran. The kidnappers are ruthless they even did not allow me to come back to see dead body of my mother. There are hundreds of persons with disability including children living in custody of Jafri in Iran. Help them to get release from the bondage,” Mujahid Shaikh helplessly requested the police.
