Patna: The kidnap of 14 year-old Zaid Mallick, who was rescued within hours of his abduction on Tuesday, was the third incident in the city in less then 20 days in which children were targeted.

Zaid may have been found within hours of his kidnap like 7-year-old Saurabh Kumar was on January 29, but the police have not been able to catch Saurabh's kidnappers. There are also question marks over the case of the kidnap and murder of 14-year-old Raunak Kumar, who was found dead on January 19, two days after he was kidnapped for ransom.

The three cases are similar; all the boys were kidnapped while they were going or returning to school.

"School-going students being targeted by criminals is a dangerous trend," a senior police officer said under cover of anonymity. "Policing has to intensify at colonies and near schools. The only respite so far is that there is no involvement of any organised criminal gang. Most of the crimes have been committed by family members or persons known to the victim's family."

In Raunak's case, the key accused is a neighbour, Vicky Paswan, and his relative Ankit.

In Saurabh's case, the rescue came as a face-saver for the police. But even after more than a week, the police are yet to make any arrest. In both Raunak and Saurabh's cases, the kidnappers lured the boys. Raunak was offered a lift to school, and Saurabh was lured by offering him sweets.

The cases have created fear in the minds of parents.

"My 10-year-old daughter studies in Class IV at Loyola High School, and I have made it a point to drop and pick her up from school," said Boring Road resident Pragya Mishra. "I have not hired any private van or auto-rickshaw for picking up and dropping my daughter to and from school as I can't trust anyone."

She doesn't even rely on her relatives, Mishra added.

City-based psychiatrist Brinda Singh said: "Involvement of friends or relatives in criminal incidents is shocking and a cause of concern for the society."