By IANS
Agra: A nine-year-old boy Abhilash, who was kidnapped 19 days ago from Nehru Enclave here, has been released after the police exerted pressure on his abductors, officials said.
He returned home Thursday. Abhilash, son of a BSNL employee, spent 18 days in terrible, inhuman conditions. The abductors demanded Rs 2 million (Rs 20 lakh) as ransom but the police said no ransom has been paid.
For Babita, the mother of the boy, no gift in the world could have been better than the safe return of her son, one day before her birthday Friday.
Navin Arora, senior superintendent of police told the media that it was the pressure from police that eventually compelled the kidnappers to release Abhilash. “The gang members have been identified and they would soon be behind bars,” Arora said.
According to police, three gangs of kidnappers are active in the ravines of Yamuna and Chambal adjoining Bah area of Agra district.
“All the three gangs seem to be operating in close coordination, forming a network and helping one another,” a source said.
Abhilash is lucky to have returned, but five other families are still waiting for their children to return.
Suryansh was picked up ten days ago. His parents and their sympathisers in Agra have been regularly demonstrating and meeting officials to secure Suryansh release.
Kshama, Radhey Shyam, Deepak and Shekhar are the other kids still with the kidnappers. The release of Abhilash has kindled a ray of hope. The police said areas bordering Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were being extensively searched.
“Pressure is being built from all sides and we are sure there would be more successes in the coming days,” a senior official said.