Patna: Managing to rescue a 7-year-old boy within hours of his kidnap on Monday has come as a face saver for Patna police, whose handling of the kidnap and murder of 14-year-old Raunak Kumar earlier this month in the state capital had drawn flak from residents and Raunak's family.

Two men on a motorcycle abducted Saurabh Kumar, 7, from the Jaganpura area around 1pm on Monday, when he was returning home from his school, SN Memorial School, along with his sister.

The cops rescued Saurabh from Sonepur railway station at around 10.30pm. "The police were able to rescue the boy as, acting swiftly, we detained five persons who were involved in the case," said Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj. "The detention of five persons exerted pressure on the kidnappers who were forced to abandon the boy at Sonepur railway station."

Kaushal Kumar of the Sonepur police station, who had gone to the station, spotted Saurabh sitting alone on a railway bench. Kaushal enquired about him and informed the Patna police.

Like Raunak's case, Saurabh too knew his kidnappers.

"We have come to know that some relatives are behind the kidnapping case," said SSP Maharaaj. "We have gathered some important leads in the case. The kidnappers fled, leaving Saurabh at the railway station. Raids are on to nab them. They have been identified from CCTV footage and would be nabbed soon."

Saurabh's relieved family members also said that the kidnappers might be persons who knew them.

Saurabh's father Santosh Baitha said: "My son told me that when he was returning home along with his sister from school, two persons who were on a motorcycle intercepted them. The two youths offered sweets to Saurabh and told him to sit on the bike."

Santosh said his daughter resisted, but the kidnappers pushed her away and abducted her brother.

Santosh, who owns an aluminium shop at the New Jaganpura area, lodged an FIR with the RK Nagar police station. However, unlike Raunak's case, the family members didn't receive any ransom call. "I didn't receive any ransom call from kidnappers," Santosh said.

As news of the kidnapping spread, the police started an intensive vehicle checking at various exit points of the state capital. Police from neighbouring districts were also alerted and the cops went through footage from the CCTV cameras installed at various locations in RK Nagar.

These stepscould perhaps have saved Raunak's life too. His kidnapper had made at least six ransom calls but was not tracked till too late.