Two friends kidnapped on their way to coaching class in Khagaria town on Saturday evening were rescued within 12 hours of the incident.

Three persons kidnapped Plus II students Raju Kumar, the son of a Begusarai-based transporter, and Rupesh Kumar around 7pm in the town, around 160km east of Patna, while they were walking to their coaching class.

Khagaria superintendent of police (SP) Anil Kumar Singh said the kidnappers - a group of seven - confined Raju and Rupesh to a hideout and planned to shift them elsewhere on Sunday morning. The group then contacted the boys' families, demanding Rs 4 lakh ransom. "The matter was reported to police around 1am on Sunday," SP Singh said.

A special police team was formed under Town police station house officer (SHO) Mahfooz Alam Khan following the alert. Around 5am on Sunday, when the victims were being transported to another hideout, the police rescued them.

The SP added: "We had sealed the borders of the district and started checking vehicles. Central paramilitary personnel were also engaged in the vehicle-checking drive at all vulnerable points." The police spotted the kidnappers and the victims near the Khagaria bus stand around 5am. SHO Khan said four of the kidnappers, identified as Bittu, Santosh, Sunny and Nikesh, were arrested. "Raids are on to nab the others involved in the abduction," he said, adding that all members of the gang were aged below 30 years.

Sources said the four persons arrested have been earlier booked in cases of murder, loot and extortion. During interrogation, they purportedly revealed the recent attempt at kidnapping was a relatively easy route for them to make a quick buck.