In May 2024, three Pakistani asylum seekers in Turkey kidnapped an Indian citizen, Radhakrishnan, and demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh from his family in India. This event isn’t isolated. Similar incidents have occurred, including a case in Cambodia where a Pakistani duo held two Indians hostage for three weeks, seeking ransom from their families. The Pakistani kidnappers involved in both cases have been arrested.
In Turkey, the incident unfolded in the city of Edirne. Radhakrishnan, who worked in a restaurant in Istanbul, was lured to Edirne with a job offer. Once there, he was abducted, bound, and a video threatening his family was sent, demanding Rs 20 lakh for his release. Turkish police arrested the three Pakistani kidnappers and confiscated pistols from them.
In Cambodia, two Pakistani men were arrested for kidnapping two Indian nationals, Mohammad Saad and Sudit Kumar, and detaining them illegally for three weeks. The incident began on April 25, when Saad and Kumar were lured under the pretense of finding a location for an Indian restaurant. The Pakistanis then kidnapped them, taking their passports and demanding $10,000 each from their families. The victims were kept handcuffed, beaten, and blindfolded. They were rescued by Cambodian police on May 16 after shouting for help, which was heard by a staff member of the condominium where they were held.
These incidents are part of a troubling trend of kidnappings involving Pakistani nationals abroad. In April 2024, four Pakistanis were arrested in Nepal for kidnapping four Sri Lankans after promising to send them to Europe for jobs, charging them substantial sums. The victims were rescued by Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigative Department.
In 2022, four Nepalese citizens were kidnapped at gunpoint from Istanbul’s Taksim Square by a group of six Pakistanis. The victims were tortured, and their families were asked for a ransom of 10,000 Euros. Turkish police later arrested the kidnappers in Beyoglu district.
These incidents have prompted several countries to take action. Turkey, for instance, tightened its visa policies for Pakistani nationals in 2022 following these crimes. This decision was influenced by a social media backlash, with hashtags like “Pakistani Perverts” and “Pakistani Get Out” trending in Turkey.
