Pune: Two men from Madhya Pradesh have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court for kidnapping a 12-year-old boy in Loni Kalbhor and taking him to Satna in MP for Rs 30 lakh ransom. The boy's uncle owns a hospital in Jejuri where his father worked as a compounder.
Additional sessions judge RN Sardesai also imposed a penalty of Rs 1,000 on the convicts Aravindrasingh Shrisatyadevsingh Patel (27) and Shivbahadursingh Avdaransingh Patel (35), both natives of Rewa district in MP. They worked as labourers in Rewa.
The victim's family also hails from Rewa district and the accused knew about their financial status. After four days of massive search, the duo was arrested in Satna when they came to take the ransom money.
The incident had taken place on February 10, 2013, around 6 pm. The boy, who studied in eighth standard, was riding a bicycle near his house in Fursungi when the duo befriended him and took him to eat panipuri. Later, they kidnapped him in an autorickshaw and kept a ball like thing in his pocket saying it was a bomb and it will explode if he shouted.
The next evening, his father received a call for Rs three lakh ransom initially and later the duo increased the ransom amount to Rs 30 lakh.
Boy's testimony proved vital
Besides call records, the court relied on the testimony of the victim. “They took me to Pune railway station in an autorickshaw. Thereafter, we boarded a train. When I was weeping, co-passengers enquired from them and they said that my mother is ill and hence I am weeping. The next day, we alighted from the train at Satna railway station. Thereafter, they took me to one village by bus and confined me in a room," the boy stated.
He further added, "They asked me the phone number of my father, which I gave. They called my father and demanded money to release me. On the next day, the kidnappers took me to a field and again called my father for money. Later, they again confined me in a room. They then took me to Satna bus stand and called my father and asked him to come to the bus stand. Thereafter, my uncle came at a petrol pump near Satna bus stand. Police in civil dress also came there and nabbed the kidnappers.” He also identified the kidnappers in the court.
Police's prompt action
Meanwhile, after the boy was not found, his parents had lodged a complaint with Uruli Devachi police chowky under Loni Kalbhor police station of Pune rural police. A team under the guidance of then superintendent of police (Pune rural) Manoj Lohiya swung into action. The lead came when the kidnappers called for ransom and everybody knew that it was a case of kidnapping. Investigation team included then API Narayan Pawar, JB Pote, Suresh Kamble. Police teams from Satna, Rewa and Jabalpur had also been provided. The plainclothes policemen had disguised themselves as vendors, autorickshaw drivers and waiters while following the kidnappers in MP.
