Students of Narayani Education Point block NH-28 and NH-77 at Chandni Chowk in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday to protest their principal’s kidnap. Picture by Lokesh Bihari

Success continued to elude the special investigation team (SIT) for the third consecutive day on Wednesday even after a dozen suspects were questioned to ascertain the whereabouts of the kidnapped director-cum-principal of a Muzaffarpur public school, Satyanarayan Prasad.

Prasad (54), along with his driver Mukesh, was kidnapped by criminals from Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi road while returning to his Gola Road residence in Muzaffarpur town late on Sunday night. The victim’s car was recovered from Jhapahan village, around 12km north of Muzaffarpur town, on the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi road early on morning.

Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jitendra Singh Rana said some suspects have been questioned.

“The police have so far not been able to locate the captives. Raids have been launched on the basis of intelligence inputs, which hinted at the involvement of a family acquaintance,” he said over the phone from Muzaffarpur.

Sources said a list of businessmen, who were in touch with the victim, was prepared and subsequently questioned by the SIT. The victim was also associated with edible oil business and used to visit Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and adjoining districts to collect money every Sunday.

The SIT also quizzed a driver, Dipu, who had contacted Prasad minutes before he left for the destination to collect money from the petty traders. Dipu had a conversation with Prasad on his cellphone about the delivery of the consignment of edible oil worth Rs 10 lakh.

A separate police team visited Shaheed Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail at Muzaffarpur and inquired about the members of a particular gang, who were released from jail recently.

“A few members of the gang, who were earlier involved in kidnapping for ransom, were released on bail recently,” a senior police officer said.

Investigations have revealed that Prasad was given sedatives by the alleged abductors before being made hostage and taken to unknown destination. “We have found samples of intoxicants from the car belonging to Prasad. Signs of protest by the victim have also been found,” an investigating officer said.

A police team was also sent to Sitamarhi to ascertain the antecedents of the driver Mukesh, who is also missing. He had a telephonic conversation with a woman around 8pm on Sunday.

“As the driver hails from Dumra in Sitamarhi district, we have sent a team there to gather information about his criminal antecedents,” the police officer said.

The officer, who is associated with the investigation, revealed that Prasad had a tiff with a close relative over property in the town.

“The relative is under the scanner of the SIT. However, the police have not questioned him as yet,” he said, adding that evidence was being gathered to ascertain his role in the incident.

SSP Rana met the victim’s wife and reportedly inquired about the dispute over property. The members of the SIT were in touch with Prasad’s family and trying to elicit information.

“The family members are cooperating with us,” the police officer said.

Inspector-general (Muzaffarpur) Parasnath, who is monitoring the operation, said the family has not received any call for ransom till date.

“Prima facie business rivalry appears to be the reason behind the kidnapping,” he said. He held a meeting with senior police officers to review the progress in the investigation of the case.

The incident has sent shock waves among the traders of the town, once considered to be a commercial hub of north Bihar. On Wednesday, around 70 representatives of different trade associations held a meeting under the banner of North Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI), which resolved to wear black badges as a mark of protest.

“We shall launch an indefinite agitation after the festivals (Durga Puja and Id) if the police failed to recover the victim,” said Devilal, an office bearer of the NBCCI.