<p>Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Bugti appealed to all tribal leaders and elders to play their role for Lakki Chand Garji's recovery. <br /><br />Eightytwo-year-old Lakki Chand Garji, who is the `maharaja' of the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat town in Balochistan province, is considered to be one of Pakistan's most revered Hindu spiritual leaders. He was kidnapped Dec 21.<br /><br />Dawn reported Thursday that leaders of the Hindu community, including Dewan Chand, Anil Kumar and Bhajan Lal, attended the press conference.<br /><br />Criticising the provincial government, Bugti said that it had failed to protect the life and property of the people as kidnapping for ransom had become common. <br /><br />He said that several members of the Hindu community had been kidnapped for ransom, with none of them being recovered by police.<br /><br />“The families of kidnapped people paid huge ransom to get their relatives freed,” Bugti was quoted as saying.<br /><br />He said that shops and homes of the Hindu community had been robbed. They were facing kidnapping for ransom for a long time and they now felt insecure in their own province. <br /><br />“No one has contacted (Garji's) family and other people of the Hindu community so far,” said Bugti.<br /><br />Lakki Chand Garji has been the 'maharaja at Kali Mata Mandir for the past 60 years and he has command on several languages including Balochi, Hindi, Sindhi, Persian and Brahavi.<br /></p>
<p>Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Bugti appealed to all tribal leaders and elders to play their role for Lakki Chand Garji's recovery. <br /><br />Eightytwo-year-old Lakki Chand Garji, who is the `maharaja' of the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat town in Balochistan province, is considered to be one of Pakistan's most revered Hindu spiritual leaders. He was kidnapped Dec 21.<br /><br />Dawn reported Thursday that leaders of the Hindu community, including Dewan Chand, Anil Kumar and Bhajan Lal, attended the press conference.<br /><br />Criticising the provincial government, Bugti said that it had failed to protect the life and property of the people as kidnapping for ransom had become common. <br /><br />He said that several members of the Hindu community had been kidnapped for ransom, with none of them being recovered by police.<br /><br />“The families of kidnapped people paid huge ransom to get their relatives freed,” Bugti was quoted as saying.<br /><br />He said that shops and homes of the Hindu community had been robbed. They were facing kidnapping for ransom for a long time and they now felt insecure in their own province. <br /><br />“No one has contacted (Garji's) family and other people of the Hindu community so far,” said Bugti.<br /><br />Lakki Chand Garji has been the 'maharaja at Kali Mata Mandir for the past 60 years and he has command on several languages including Balochi, Hindi, Sindhi, Persian and Brahavi.<br /></p>