Uncle abducts 10-yr-old for ransom, releases him due to 'police presence'

A 10-year-old boy allegedly kidnapped by his uncle for a ransom of Rs 30 lakh was found abandoned in west Delhi after his parents approached police.

Three kidnappers have been arrested, police said on Wednesday.
A probe was initiated after the boy’s father Raju approached RK Puram police station in south Delhi on Tuesday.

“The boy had left home in RK Puram sector 6 for school on Tuesday morning. Around noon, Raju received a phone call informing that the boy had been kidnapped. The caller demanded a ransom of Rs 30 lakh,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Prem Nath.

Raju was threatened that his son will be killed if the payment was not made by 5 pm on Tuesday. He immediately contacted the school, which confirmed that his son was missing.

On receiving another ransom call, police told Raju to settle down the ransom amount from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

“The kidnapper asked Raju to arrange the money and wait for the next phone call,” Nath added.

The mobile phone was switched off after the calls were made, but police managed to track the caller to Udyog Vihar in outer Delhi’s Mangolpuri.

A raid was being conducted when Raju received another phone call from the kidnapper.

On the instructions of police, Raju agreed to pay the ransom and the kidnapper asked him to reach under Zakhira bridge in west Delhi. A police team reached the spot and a trap was laid.

Raju boarded an autorickshaw with the ransom amount and was discreetly followed by another police team.

“But somehow the kidnapper sensed police presence and abandoned the boy near Zakhira bridge. The boy was safely recovered,” Nath said.

The boy told his father that he was kidnapped by uncle Sunil who is Raju’s cousin and his three accomplices.

The gang also left a motorcycle at the spot which was found to have been stolen from Mangolpuri.

During investigation, the police team arrested Sunil’s accomplice Bhagwan Dass, 22.
At his instance, co-accused Tarkeshwar, 20, and Karan, 20, were also arrested.
“Investigation is in process and raids are being conducted at Sunil’s possible hideouts,” Nath added.

On interrogation, the accused told police that Sunil recently had an altercation with Raju over a trivial issue.

Thereafter, he contacted them and hatched a conspiracy to take revenge by kidnapping Raju’s son to demand a ransom.

As per plan, they robbed a mobile phone from Nihal Vihar and a motorcycle from Mangolpuri.

Around 10 am on Tuesday, Sunil and Bhagwan Dass went to RK Puram on the motorcycle and told the child that his father was calling him.

As the child knew Sunil, he left with them.

“The child was taken to Mangolpuri where he was left in the custody of Tarkeshwar and Karan. Bhagwan Dass was the person negotiating with Raju,” Nath said.