UP special task force nabs three for abducting government official

Three persons were arrested by the Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh police in Agra for the alleged kidnapping of a senior central government official, a police officer said here on Sunday.

Satyendra Narain Singh, a joint director in Petroleum Conservation Research Centre, New Delhi, was kidnapped from Omega 1 Greater Noida when he had gone out for a night walk on July 8, said additional director general of police Jagmohan Yadav.

On the same night, the abductors called Singh’s wife Uma and demanded Rs 2 crore for his safe release, he said.

On July 9, Uma filed an FIR with Kasna police station, following which police and the STF jointly undertook the investigation in the case. Meanwhile, the abductors agreed to release Singh for Rs 16 lakh.

“Singh was released by the abductors after Uma paid Rs 16 lakh on Saturday and after ensuring that he was safe, police swung into action,” he said. 

Yadav said that the joint team arrested Sumit Pathak, his brother Shyam Kishore and Raj Kumar Tiwari from Agra on Saturday night. 

“At least Rs 9.23 lakh of ransom, vehicles and guns were recovered from them,” he added.

Yadav said 16 persons were involved in the abduction and the mastermind was based in Etawah. 

“We are trying to arrest the others involved in the abduction,” he said.