After the fiasco in lakhimpur Kheri, where the local police and the elite STF failed to track the kidnappers and rescue the three young sisters resulting in the family pay a ransom to ensure their release, the state was further rocked by a series of kidnappings.
While a trader was robbed, abducted and later gunned downin Agra, another 7-year-old boy was kidnapped and murdered in Badaun, a Block Development Committee (BDC) member was abducted in Hathras and a youth was kidnapped in Faizabad and a ransom of Rs 50 lakhs was demanded for his release.
In Agra, Anish Singh (70), owner of Bhagwan Petrol Pump at NH-2 in Etmadpur police station area, was returning to his Kamlanagar home after collecting Rs 9.10 lakh from the pump on Tuesday evening when he was kidnapped by unidentified men. Some locals informed the police but the cops did not respond swiftly. The police party came out of their stupor only after the kidnappers robbed teh trader of the cash and fatally hacked him. The body of the trader was found in his car abandoned on Mai Road in Khandauli locality of Agra. Taking serious note, SSP Agra suspended the in-charge of Ethmadpur police station, Gyanendra Sirohi. In Badaun, Usaidul (7), who had been missing since last Saturday was abducted by his neighbours Zoaib, labbu and Farhan who demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakhs. After the police tried to get the boy released, the kidnappers murdered the hostage. The police later launched a manhunt and nabbed the accused on Tuesday.
The accused while confessing to their role revealed that they planned to burn the body to conceal evidence. The incident led to arson in the area, with irate locals torching the house of Zoaib and also attacked the houses of labbu and Farhan. The police has deployed extra forces in the area.
In Hathras, Renu Devi of Badabhoj area informed the police that Ram Niwas Gautam of Kakrauli and his henchmen stormed her house on Tuesday evening and kidnapped her husband Shree Niwas, who is a BDC member. A case of kidnapping was registered but the cops failed to get any headway till late Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile in Faizabad, a kidnapping for ransom was reported with Purakalandar police station. Ravi (21) of Rampur Sardha in Purakalandar locality left for lucknow but went missing last Thursday. His family members later lodged a case of disappearance with the police. On Tuesday, the family received a phone call wherein the caller claimed that Ravi was in his custody and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh for his release. later the case was altered to one of abduction and the police was making out efforts to track down the caller.