Basti Police Execute Swift Rescue Operation, Arrest Three in Kidnapping-for-Ransom Case
In a rapid response to a kidnapping-for-ransom complaint, Lalganj police in Basti district, with crucial assistance from Varanasi police, successfully rescued two youths and detained three accused within hours on Friday. The operation showcased effective inter-district coordination and technical surveillance capabilities.
Timeline of the Kidnapping and Rescue
Basti police received an emergency call about the kidnapping around 1 am on April 10. By 1 pm the same day, they had already traced the accused and rescued the two kidnapped teenagers, demonstrating remarkable efficiency. The victims were identified as 19-year-old Anay Upadhyay and his 17-year-old associate Divyanshu alias Rahul Upadhyay.
Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, a resident of Lalganj and father of Anay, had lodged a written complaint stating that his son and his friend had traveled to Varanasi on April 8. On April 9, he received a distressing call from his son's mobile phone where an unidentified person informed him that Anay had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom. The phone was switched off immediately after the call, heightening the family's anxiety.
Police Investigation and Technical Tracking
Lalganj police promptly registered a case against unknown persons and launched an intensive investigation. A specialized police team rushed to Varanasi and, with support from local police authorities, employed advanced technical methods including mobile location tracking and comprehensive CCTV footage analysis to trace the victims' whereabouts.
Circle Officer Satyendra Bhushan Tiwari revealed crucial details about the kidnapping method. "Police investigation determined that the victims were allegedly lured to Varanasi through a social media contact identified as 'Mishra,' who convinced them that accommodation would be conveniently arranged. Investigators strongly suspect this individual to be an integral part of the conspiracy, and active efforts are currently underway to trace and apprehend him," Tiwari stated.
Modus Operandi of the Accused
Tiwari further elaborated that upon reaching Varanasi, the youths were approached by one of the accused, Shariyat Ulla, who gained their trust by claiming familiarity and offering to arrange lodging facilities. He subsequently took them to a restaurant near Goithaha crossing in Lalpur-Pandeypur area, where they were held captive against their will.
The accused allegedly subjected the victims to physical assault and coerced them into calling their family members to arrange ransom payment. The ransom demand, which initially varied in amount, was later fixed at approximately Rs 1.66 lakh. According to CO Tiwari, the accused employed a calculated method by making ransom calls exclusively from the victims' own mobile phones and planning to route the money through the victims' bank accounts to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
Successful Rescue and Arrests
Through meticulous technical surveillance and detailed CCTV analysis, police successfully traced the victims' location with remarkable speed. Both youths were rescued safely from the restaurant, and three accused individuals were taken into custody:
- Shariyat Ulla (30) from Jharkhand
- Jaswant Singh (29) from Bihar's Buxar district
- Abhijeet Singh (30) from Bihar's Kaimur district
Recognition and Gratitude
Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna announced a substantial reward of Rs 50,000 for the police team involved in the successful operation, recognizing their exceptional performance and dedication to duty.
Anay's family expressed profound gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the DGP, and the entire Basti police force for their swift and effective response. Anay's father Manoj Kumar Upadhyay emotionally stated that the police acted with remarkable speed and took immediate action, successfully rescuing his son along with his friend. He emphasized his deep gratitude to the Chief Minister and Basti police for their prompt intervention, which he believes saved his son's life.
The case highlights the evolving nature of criminal tactics involving social media luring while simultaneously demonstrating police adaptability in employing technical surveillance methods to combat such crimes effectively.
