Abductors had been demanding Rs 20 lakh for the release of National Institute of Technology (NIT) student Ravi Kumar (22) for over two weeks but on Sunday they gave Rs 20 to the youth while freeing him.

Since June 23 night, Ravi was taken to different places, while his family did everything possible to find his whereabouts. Early on Sunday morning, their ordeal came to an end as Ravi was set free at Masaurhi.

Initially, the abductors demanded Rs 6 lakh as ransom but later hiked it to Rs 20 lakh. The family and the police claimed that no money was paid for Ravi’s release, even as sources said Rs 10 lakh was given as ransom.

Ravi’s father, Ramesh Rajak, the principal of a middle school at Madhepura, was relieved. “I am very happy that my son has returned home safely,” he said.

Ravi left his rented residence at Ranighat around 7.45pm on June 23 after he received a call from a girl. He went to Hajipur where four persons abducted him. On June 25, the captors called up Ravi’s maternal uncle, Ranjan Kumar, and demanded Rs 6 lakh as ransom. The same day a second call was made again from Ravi’s number and the ransom amount was hiked to Rs 20 lakh. The police launched a search operation on June 26 to nab the criminals after the abductors called up Ramesh and Ranjan while they were at the office of Patna City deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sushil Kumar.

“Since Ravi was kidnapped the Patna police used various pressure tactics for recovery of the boy, which included tracking his mobile signal. Investigations are on and the police will find out the girl who first made the call,” the DSP said.