Cops claim Munda was released without paying ransom
Ranchi police recovered chairman of Nilay Institute Bhim Singh Munda from Rohtas in Bihar on August 12 and busted an interstate gang involved in the kidnapping of Munda. Munda was abducted on August 4 and his recovery was made possible by a well knit strategy using human intelligence and technology to zero on the cross borer location.
As many as seven persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of the chairman while two are still evading arrest.
“Ranchi police conducted an operation based on a plan that used mobile tracking and highest form of technology besides human input (to recover Munda). This is an interstate gang with operations in neighbouring states. We are interrogating them to know about cases of their involvement,” said DIG South Chotanagpur, Pravin Kumar.
Munda, abducted by Palamu-based gang led by Kunal Singh, was recovered yesterday from Dharhara village under Darihat PS in Rohtas district. While seven members of the gang have been arrested kingpin of the abduction plot Vinod Singh and head of the gang Kunal Singh are on the run from police. The gang comprises criminals who have a history of involvement in heinous crimes and wanted in cases of murder.
The chairman of the Institute was taken out of the State by avoiding traps laid by police at different exit points of the city and State. According to police, a car moved with the vehicle that was used to abduct Munda and the driver of the car used to provide information about police’s checking and hence help them in change their course.
“Kunal has absconded from military. Vinod is the mastermind of the plot which was being prepared from last four months. They had conducted recce of the area several times before executing their plan. The gang used another car to provide cover and information about police’s checking drive to avoid getting trapped,” added Kumar.
State police had formed five teams that went to UP, Bihar, Kolkata and different parts of Jharkhand in search of the high profile victim of interstate extortionist. Among the seven arrested, lallan Paswan was the first to be arrested near Barga bridge on GT Road under Barun PS in Aurangabad. Paswan spilled the beans during interrogation and based on the inputs provided by the dreaded criminal, Munda was secured from the house of Sunil Paswan at Darhara and subsequently all others save Vinod and Kunal were arrested. Police recovered one 9mm pistol, three country-made pistols, nine live cartridges, six mobile phones, three SIM cards and two motorcycles in the entire operation.
“I was constantly threatened by the criminals that they will kill me if my family members did not pay the ransom amount. They held me captive by tying my legs and hand,” said the chairman of Nilay Institute.
Interestingly police claimed that Munda’s release was secured without money getting exchanged in lieu of him. According to unconfirmed sources, the abductors had demanded Rs 2-crore as ransom to release Munda.
The investigation process once again exposed the loopholes in telecommunication sector and poor verification process to ascertain real user of a SIM card and prevent misuse of it in cases of extortion. The SIM card that was used by the members of the gang belonged to UP circle.
The police will now launch initiatives to bring the owners of SIM cards to book for allegedly cooperating with the criminals. Also, the DIG assured that he will recommend names of police officials for Police Medal given by the Chief Minister and cash reward for executing the operation with perfection.
Munda was kidnapped by four persons on August 4 near Itahe River in Burhmu while he was returning home from office, Nilay Educational Trust, at Thakurgaon. Burhmu police had filed a case under section-346A of IPC against unidentified persons on the day of abduction.