PUNJAB POLICE CRACK KIDNAPPING OF KHARAR STUDENT IN 48 HOURS

CHANDIGARH/SAS NAGAR, August 19:

          In yet another success in the ongoing drive against anti-social elements launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Police on Friday cracked the kidnapping case of a Kharar youth in less than 48-hours after arresting three accused persons who had honey-trapped him. 

          DIG AGTF-cum-Ropar Range Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the Police teams have safely rescued the victim identified as Hitesh Bhumla, a student of B.E. at Chandigarh University Gharuan, who was held captive in sedated condition at a rented accommodation in Ranjit Nagar, Kharar. The kidnappers were demanding Rs 50 lakh as ransom from the parents of the boy.

          Those arrested have been identified as Ajay Kadian (25) of village Jattal in Panipat, Haryana; Ajay (22) of village Aabood in Sirsa, Haryana; and Rakhi of village Baroli in Sonipat, Haryana. The Police have also recovered one Honda City Car, five mobile Phones and one .32 bore pistol along with nine bullets from their possession.     

          The DIG, while addressing a press conference said that the police had received a complaint from Hitesh’s parents that that their son had gone missing and kidnappers are demanding Rs 50 lakhs ransom from them. Acting promptly, the Police teams have registered the first information report (FIR) under sections 364-A and 365 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Sadar Kharar, and immediately different police teams were formed and an intelligence led operation was initiated, he said. 

          He said that the team led by DSP Gursher Singh, Incharge CIA Inspector Shiv Kumar, along with teams of CIA, Kurukshetra was able to nab the accused and recover the victim in early morning on Friday. It bears special mention that District Police Ambala, Haridwar and Ghaziabad were active in identifying and nabbing the accused, he added.

          SSP Mohali Vivek Sheel Soni said that, during investigation, it has been found that the girl Rakhi had made fake social media profiles and after befriending the target on Instagram and Facebook, lured him into meeting her. “Upon meeting, she along with her accomplices kidnapped the victim and demanded ransom from his parents to release him,” he said. Further investigations are on, he added.