Patna: The kidnappers of Chandar Sah, a 50-year-old employee of a Purnea trader, have demanded Rs 20 lakh for his safe release.
Unidentified criminals kidnapped Sah from Gulab Bagh locality of Purnea, around 300km northeast of Patna, on April 7. Purnea sadar sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Raj Kumar Sah said on Wednesday that a special team (SIT) had been constituted to rescue him. The team had been sent to Malda in Bengal on the basis of evidence gathered against the suspects.
The police launched an investigation into the kidnapping case after family members received a ransom call on April 8, a day after Sah went missing. The anonymous caller demanded Rs 20 lakh as ransom for the safe release of the man held captive a couple of hours before he was scheduled to leave for Malda.
SDPO Kumar didn't rule out the involvement of an acquaintance of Sah. "The SIT has got some clues in the case and hope to rescue him from the clutches of his abductors soon," he said, adding that efforts were on to trace the cellphone used to make the ransom call.
Sah's son Nawal Sah suspects the involvement of three residents who are absconding after the incident. Nawal told police his family was distraught over the kidnapping of his father, a resident of Lohapatti under the Purnea town police station.
Purnea superintendent of police (SP) Nishant Kumar Tiwari claimed the gang involved in the kidnapping has already been identified. "The case will be cracked in the next couple of days. The SIT is working on inputs received in the case," he said.
The state police headquarters is closely monitoring the investigation.
Liquor arrest
Three persons, carrying liquor in a pick-up van, were arrested in Darbhanga on Wednesday.
The police also recovered two-wheelers from the Gandhinagar colony in town based on a tip-off.
Murder accused
In Ara, a team of district intelligence unit and police, led by Udwantnagar police station house officer Rajiv Ranjan, conducted raids at Belaur village and arrested PawanChaudhary, a murder accused, from his residence on Wednesday.
