Confessions of Kidnappers

"Agricultural income isn't enough. I always wanted to live a royal life."
PRABHJINDER SINGH ('DIMPY'), 33, son of a cotton farmer from Bhatinda

In 1990, Dimpy was just another son of a Jat Sikh farmer from the Punjab hinterland sent to the state capital, Chandigarh, for education. But Dimpy quickly got a taste of the good life. He earned his first lakh running guns for Punjab militants, but he blew it all on fast cars and a lavish lifestyle. Then he wanted more money -- and as quicklyas possible. So on December 31, 1996, he executed his first kidnapping. With his share of Rs 50 lakh, Dimpy bought a wine business for Rs 22 lakh and an industry for Rs 12 lakh. He also floated his own gang, comprising three unemployed youth from middle-class families. But he soon became greedy. "I wanted to live a royal life," he says. "I wanted to make quick money through one or two big ransoms." When told that businessmen in Bangalore had virtually no security, he flew to the southern city, kidnapped businessman Nirmal Jaipuria, and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore. When he made his ransom call, a police officer kept him talking for 40 minutes. Soon Dimpy was traced. His dreams turned to dust.

"Kidnapping fetches enormous returns, but now I have no respect, nothing."
ARVIND RANA, 27, X standard school dropped from Jonti, West Delhi

Arvind is a clone. Champagne dreams, but semi-educated: there are thousands like him in the sprawl of urban villages in north India. The son of a farmer who died a few years ago, he dropped out from school when he was in standard X, turned his back on the family's 1.5 acre farm and slipped easily into a life of crime. He began by joining the 'tender mafia', gun wielding youth who only allow contractors who have paid protection money to bid for tenders.The first time he was involved in a kidnapping was in 1990. Soon he had 13 cases of murder, robbery and kidnapping against him and he fled to western Uttar Pradesh where resident don Madan Bhaiya became his mentor. It was the beginning of the end. Promised cars and plots by Bhaiya, he was hooked. Now he says: "Bhaiya taught me nothing but the bad ways of the world." His final abduction was Delhi boy Tarun Puri which eventually led to his arrest. Today, in police custody, he remains a confused young man: "The man who ruined me shall pay with his life. But then again I want to reform myself."

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