On June 3, almost all the major Indian newspapers reported that Fr Alexis Prem Kumar from Tamil Nadu had been abducted by some gunmen near Herat in Afghanistan. It came as a big shock to me as I have known Alexis for almost three decades. The news item prompted a reader from Coimbatore to send in this query: What is the difference between abduction and kidnapping? Was Fr Kumar abducted or kidnapped?
There is a difference in meaning between ‘abduction’ and ‘kidnapping’. To abduct someone is to carry the person away against their will by force or deceitful means. The motive or the intent of the abductor(s) is known only after the victim is released or set free. A divorced parent might abduct their child, or a boy might abduct a girl whom he is in love with though the girl is not interested in him, or a sex offender might abduct someone to satisfy their own desire. There are many interesting stories of aliens abducting people. The 1961 Betty and Barney Hill case is an example of an alien abduction story.
To ‘kidnap’ someone is to take them against their will and hold them as a “hostage” to be used as a negotiating or bargaining tool. Though the word ‘kidnap’ literally means seize a kid, not all kidnappings involve children. Kidnappers have multiple reasons for their action. It may be motivated by financial or political reasons. A person may kidnap a child and demand that the child’s parents or relatives pay a ransom if they want the child back. A group of militants might kidnap a celebrity and demand that the government release their associates from jail. The intent behind a kidnap is usually revealed immediately after the victim is taken hostage to begin negotiations.
Was Fr Kumar abducted or kidnapped? At the time of writing this column, it is not clear who took him captive and why they did so. It is a clear case of abduction. Since there are no ransom calls from any group, it cannot be termed a kidnapping.
It doesn’t matter whether it is a case of abduction or kidnapping. What matters most is his safe return to India so that he can continue his good work.
Here are two queries from a reader:
1. What is the meaning of the idiom ‘to stand a chance’? Please explain with some examples.
2. I came across the term ‘jaw-dropping’ in a news report. What does it mean?
The idiomatic expression ‘to stand a chance’ of doing something means there is a possibility of being able to do it. Here are examples of how the idiom is used in sentences:
Book an ACT Broadband connection before June 20 and stand a chance to win….
Do you think the KKR team stands a chance of entering the IPL finals?
The phrase ‘jaw-dropping’ refers to something that causes a strong emotional reaction because of its unexpectedness. If something is extremely surprising, impressive or shocking it is described as jaw-dropping. Here are some synonyms of the term: amazing, dumbfounding, mind boggling, and stunning. Here are examples of ‘jaw-dropping’ used in a sentence:
Suresh Raina’s jaw-dropping 87 off 25 balls in the recent IPL was a delightful treat for his fans.
Courts in the country have a jaw-dropping two crore cases awaiting trial.