209 men kidnapped for marriage in India

New Delhi, Dec 2 (PTI) It may sound curious but a latest survey by the Indian government shows 209 men were kidnapped in the country last year to force them into wedlock.

This figure includes three men above the age of 50 years and two below the age of 10 years.

Interestingly, the eastern Indian state of Bihar is the only big state where more men are kidnapped than women, according to the 'Crime in India - 2007' report prepared by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

According to the report, 1,268 men were kidnapped from
Bihar while figures for women were six less than that.

Out of a total of 27,561 kidnapping cases, 12,856 were
related to marriage in which 12,874 people were abducted.

Marriage was the main cause of kidnapping and abduction
of women which accounted for 61.2 percent (12,655) of the
20,690 victims from the fairer sex while ransom was the
main cause of kidnapping of men representing 8.1 percent cases
(596 out of 7,340).

Among the women, the report said, the largest number of
victims of kidnapping for marriage were from the age group of
18-30 years accounting for 7,930 followed by 15-18 years with
2,521.

Five men in the age-group of 18-30 years were among 417
people who were kidnapped for prostitution, with 264 women
between 18 and 30 years leading the list of victims.

A total of 28,030 persons were kidnapped or abducted
last year registering an increase of 15.4 percent than the
previous year.

More than double number of females (20,690) were
kidnapped compared to men (7,340) accounting for 73.8 percent,
the NCRB report said.

Interestingly, not a single case of kidnapping was
registered across the country for selling body or body parts
while 15 cases of kidnapping for begging were reported.

The highest incidence of kidnapping was reported from
the norther state of Uttar Pradesh which accounted for 16.2
percent (4,478 cases) followed by Bihar (2,530). PTI