Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123059390300.htm

New Delhi

Five held for abducting Customs clearing agent

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Five persons, including an assistant manager with a co-operative firm, have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a Customs clearing agent for ransom. The victim has been rescued.

Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Ghaziabad, went missing while he was returning from his office in West Vinod Nagar on December 18. His family received a call two days later demanding Rs.25 lakh as ransom for his safe release. The matter was reported to the police.

Subsequently the family received several ransom calls which were traced to Aligarh, Mathura and Agra. Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested Satyabhan Singh, working as assistant manager with a Faridabad-based co-operative company.

His accomplices were arrested at his instance and the victim was rescued. The accused have been identified as Harender, Manpal, Ram Dayal and Pramod.