THE POLICE today rescued a 5-year-old girl, Kajal, who was kidnapped last month from the Seemapuri area.
According to the police, five persons were involved in the kidnapping out of whom three have been arrested. The main accused has been identified as Rohan Singh from Aligarh. The girl was recovered from Jamalpur village in Aligarh district.
The police said that Rohan Singh had identified Kajal as a soft target and planted a woman Kanti from his village as a maid-servant in Kajal's house. Kanti had come begging for a job as part of the plan and was recruited by Kajal's mother Saroj.
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Saroj is a widow who works in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Her husband, an employee of the DJB, was killed in an accident a few years ago.
The main accused Rohan Singh had zeroed in on his target as he had a good knowledge of the area. The police stated that on his direction, the girl was subsequently kidnapped by the maid after her tuition classes on February 28. Kajal was taken to Agra first and then to Barautha village and finally to Jamalpur. She was kept in captivity for 19 days but was apparently treated well.
The girl's mother, Saroj, first received a ransom note on March 8, which demanded that Rs 10 lakhs be paid to secure the girl's release. The demand was later scaled down to Rs 5 lakh. The first ransom call was made on March 9 allegedly by Rohan Singh. Calls were also made on March 15 and finally on March 18. Saroj was told that her daughter's hands would be chopped off if she did not make the payment. The police had earlier tracked down the calls to Aligarh where a police party was sent. When the second call was made on March 18, the police traced the booth from where the calls were made.
They immediately contacted the phone booth owner, Shahid Iqbal, and urged him to help nab Rohan Singh. Iqbal then nabbed him. Upon interrogation, he revealed that the girl was being kept in captivity in Jamalpur. After arresting the maid Kanti, the police recovered Kajal from the custody of Surinder Singh who was also arrested. Two other youths, Ranvir and Rakesh, allegedly involved in the kidnapping, are absconding.
Speaking at a press conference, DCP (North-East distt) R.S. Krishna lamented that the mother had not verified the antecedents of her domestic help. Saroj also stated that the kidnappers had advised her to sell a plot and pay the ransom.