Date:01/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120153030300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Kidnapped boy traced

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: A boy kidnapped from Buguda in Ganjam district for ransom was traced by the police in Baladia village under the Korei police station in Jajpur district on Thursday.

The victim was Binayak Sethi, five-year-old son of a teacher at Buguda, Rajkishore Sethi. The police arrested Prashant Sethi, a cousin of Binayak, who is alleged to be the key person behind the kidnap.

Efforts are on to nab the other persons involved in the kidnap.

Ganjam Superintendent of Police S. Devdutta Singh said the kidnappers could not succeed in their efforts.

Rajkishore was a resident of Jajpur district who was serving at Buguda.

His relative Prashant had come to Buguda ten days ago and was staying at his home. On Monday Rajkishore went to Jajpur for two days leaving behind his family at Buguda. Prashant, however, remained at Buguda with the family of Rajkishore. When Rajkishore returned on Wednesday night, he found his son missing. He also started receiving calls hinting at his son’s kidnap. He approached the Ganjam SP for help.

The police based its investigation on electronic surveillance of phone calls to Rajkishore by the kidnappers and interrogation of Prashant , who was last seen with the child at Buguda market and was suspected to be linked to the kidnappers. When the kidnappers sensed trouble, they left the child roadside and escaped in a car.