Malda, Aug. 10: It was like a scene straight out of a Bollywood blockbuster.

Men in khaki, like their smart counterparts in Hindi films, escorted parents of two children, disguised as drivers, cleaners and mechanics, to help free them from the clutches of a kidnapper at Chariaanantapur in Kaliachak police station area.

The children — 12-year-old Azharuddin and six-year-old Heerak — were abducted on August 7 from Nalhati in Birbhum district.

Nurul Sheikh and his accomplice-in-crime, Sadiqul Islam, who had demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakh, have been arrested.

According to district superintendent of police Sashi Kant Pujari, Nurul used to work in the house of Rafiq Uddin, an employee of Nalhati Municipality.

On August 7, he took Rafiq’s son Azharuddin, and his nephew Heerak, for a walk. Nurul then brought them to Malda by a bus. On reaching Kaliachak, he rang up Rafiq from a telephone booth threatening him to part with Rs 2 lakh to get back the children.

Rafiq and Heerak’s father Abdul Samad lodged a written complaint with the police in Nalhati immediately.

Acting on the advice of the police, Rafiq confirmed — in the second call that he received from Nurul — that he was ready to pay the amount. The number from where Nurul called was traced to Malda and the Birbhum superintendent of police got in touch with Pujari.

A team of eight police officials, headed by officer-in-charge of Nalhati police station Swapan Banerjee, arrived here yesterday. Another team led by officer-in-charge of Kaliachak police station was also deployed to trace the culprits.

On Nurul’s instruction, Rafiq and Abdul Samad reached Golokmore in Kaliachak police station area this afternoon with the two police teams patrolling the area in disguise. After the money was paid and Azharuddin and Heerak handed over, the policemen caught Nurul and Sadiqul off-guard.

According to the police, the kidnapped boys had been kept at Mahabbatpur, close to the international border, so that if residents of the area became suspicious, they would be transported to Bangladesh.