Kidnapped child rescued, two held

Delhi Police have rescued an eight-year-old boy, who was kidnapped from south-east Delhi’s Okhla Industrial Area for a Rs 5 lakh ransom. Two youths, known to the boy’s family, have been arrested.

The accused have been identified as Umesh Yadav and Rajesh Yadav, who hail from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district.

“They were held over an investigation after Vineet Pathak (name changed) went missing from his house on Tuesday,” said Ajay Chaudhary, additional commissioner of police (south east).

Vineet’s father Sunil, who is from Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, had approached police on Wednesday after he found a ransom note at the Okhla Industrial Area factory where he works as a caretaker.

During the course of investigation, it was found that the ransom note was written by Vineet which led to suspicion that the accused may be someone known to the family.

“However, it was strange that the kidnappers were demanding Rs 5 lakh despite being aware of the family’s financial background,” another police official added.

A police team then checked Sunil’s acquaintances. They found he used to live in rented accommodation in Harkesh Nagar, where Umesh also lived in an adjacent room.

Sunil had vacated the rented premises and shifted to Okhla Industrial Area on September 9.
Keeping in view the young age of the victim and potential threat to his life, the team immediately swung into action and raided suspected hideouts in Noida and Greater Noida.
“Due to the pressure mounted by us, Umesh came to Okhla to drop the child, but he was apprehended and the child was rescued,” Chaudhary added.

During investigation, Umesh told police that Rajesh had knowingly facilitated keeping Vineet hostage at his rented room in Habibpur village in Greater Noida. Rajesh was then arrested for harbouring Umesh and keeping the kidnapped child in his room.