A gang of kidnappers in Punjab’s Jalandhar district have demanded a ransom of Rs 55 lakhs to release a 17-year-old school boy who is a US citizen of Indian (Punjabi) origin.
Police said Gagandeep Singh was abducted when he stepped out to visit a grocery shop near his family home in Adampur town on Tuesday evening. The boy has been attending a private school in Punjab since the demise of his USA-based father some time back.
“Gagan has been missing since Tuesday after he returned from school and stepped out to go to the shop,” the boy’s uncle Mr Onkar Singh told police. A day later (Wednesday) the family received a call from Gagandeep who told them he had been abducted and the kidnappers had beaten him badly.
The ransom demand was made and frequently repeated in subsequent calls, each time from Gagandeep’s own mobile phone. “They want Rs 55 lakhs to return him safely,” Onkar Singh said.
Police believe the kidnappers are local persons who were aware of Gagandeep’s rich landowning family background. An elaborate technical operation is currently underway and police are believed to have a fair idea about the broad location of the criminals and their hostage.
“Our people are tracking the culprits but our foremost priority is to ensure the safety of the young victim,” Jalandhar Range DIG Sharad S. Chauhan told reporters.