Prayagraj Police Crack Kidnapping Case, Arrest Four for Minor's Abduction
In a significant breakthrough, a joint team comprising the Special Operations Group (SOG), surveillance cell, and Manda police in Prayagraj arrested four individuals on Friday for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a minor boy from Saray Kala village. The arrests followed a swift investigation into the incident that occurred recently, with police also seizing two cars and four mobile phones from the accused.
Details of the Arrested Accused
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as:
- Ujjawal Sharma, also known as Vivek Sharma, aged 26, from Saray Kala
- Rajkumar Pandey, aged 38, from Meja
- Ashutosh Pradhan, alias Himanshu, aged 28, from Ghazipur
- Nitish Kumar, aged 26, from Ballia
The minor boy was abducted on March 7 from outside his residence and was successfully rescued the following day in Varanasi, thanks to coordinated police efforts.
Family Ties and Financial Dispute Trigger Kidnapping Plot
Police investigations revealed that the key conspirator, Ujjwal Sharma, is a cousin of the boy's father, highlighting a disturbing familial betrayal. Ashutosh Pradhan, who is a maternal cousin of Ujjwal, was also implicated in the crime. According to authorities, the kidnapping plot was sparked by a financial disagreement between Ujjwal and Ashutosh.
A few days prior to the incident, Ujjwal had lent a sum of money to Ashutosh. When Ujjwal demanded repayment, Ashutosh allegedly claimed inability to return the funds. In response, Ujjwal proposed kidnapping his cousin's son, suggesting to Ashutosh that the boy's father had recently purchased land and likely had substantial cash on hand. The duo planned to demand a ransom ranging from Rs 20 to 30 lakh.
Execution of the Kidnapping and Rescue Operation
Ashutosh subsequently enlisted his acquaintances, Prashant Rai and Nitish Kumar, to assist in the scheme. Ujjwal arranged for Rajkumar Pandey to provide and drive a vehicle in exchange for payment. On March 6, Rajkumar collected a car from Prashant in Ghazipur. The following day, he met Ashutosh at the Dighiya T-junction, and together they proceeded to Saray Kala.
As per the premeditated plan, Rajkumar operated the vehicle while Ashutosh, concealed with a mask, waited inside. When the child exited his school van, Ashutosh swiftly picked him up, placed him in the car, and deceitfully informed the boy that he was being taken to his maternal uncle's house.
The accused then crossed the pontoon bridge and traveled via Bhadohi towards Varanasi. At the Syed Raza intersection in Chandauli, Prashant and Nitish joined them in a separate car. The child was transferred to their vehicle, and Rajkumar was instructed to return only after the ransom money was secured. He later abandoned the car near Mahevaghat.
Police disclosed that the child was held captive in a vacant house belonging to Ashutosh's in-laws in Ramnagar, Varanasi. During this period, Ujjwal reportedly monitored police activities and communicated updates to the gang using WhatsApp statuses.
Panic and Safe Recovery of the Child
As police teams traced the movements to Varanasi, the kidnappers grew apprehensive. Ashutosh then took the child near the Prakash Palace Guest House, wrote the mother's phone number on a slip provided by Ujjwal, and directed the boy to hand it to the security guard before fleeing the scene. The child was later found safe, and a formal case was registered by the authorities.
Further investigation into the matter is currently underway, with police continuing to delve into all aspects of the case to ensure justice is served.
