The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Six held on abduction charge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Six held on abduction charge

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JAN. 18. The Cyberabad police on Tuesday busted a gang of six persons that allegedly abducted a 10-month-old baby girl from her grandparents at knifepoint at Nacharam and later released her on payment of Rs. 10 lakhs three weeks ago.

The police recovered Rs. 6,87,790 of the ransom, two gold chains and an ATM card, the Cyberabad Police Commissioner, M. Mahender Reddy, told a press conference. Two other members of the gang were at large.

The alleged mastermind behind the kidnap, G. Suresh (27), who discontinued his Master of Business Administration programme, was a native of Shabunagar in Nalgonda district. Six years ago he set up `Marks' study circle at Dilsukhnagar. The institute ran into losses.

He was arrested in 2000 and 2004 for his alleged involvement in pseudo naxalite cases in Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.

While in jail in Visakhapatnam, he came in contact with L. Raju, B. Bheema Rao, B. Laxman Rao and Venkanna.

After his release, Suresh allegedly extorted money from several persons and organisations, including Sree Chaitanya and Vikas colleges, Vijayawada, and Narayana and Ratna colleges, Nellore, posing as a naxalite, Mr. Mahender Reddy said.

He met Prasad Rao of HMT Nagar in Nacharam while travelling in an RTC bus from Hyderabad to Vijayawada in October last. On learning that Mr. Rao was living with his wife and granddaughter, Archana (10 months), Suresh planned to kidnap the girl. On December 25, 2004, Suresh, L. Raju, B. Bheem Rao and B. Laxman Rao allegedly barged into the house, abducted the girl and collected cash and property from the old couple at knifepoint.

The next day, they called up Mr. Rao, demanded a ransom of Rs. 10 lakhs and allegedly threatened to kill the girl if the money was not paid. He sent G. Sai Sunil, M. Venkateshwarlu and T. Murali to collect the money on December 27. While Sunil received the suitcase comprising cash, Murali stood at a distance near Aradhana theatre in Tarnaka to confirm payment of the ransom. The gang released the baby safely the same evening. Except Vekateshwarlu and Murali, all others were arrested.

The Commissioner appreciated the work done by the Malkajgiri ACP, P. Prabhakar Reddy, Inspectors - A. Shivarama Krishna and T. Amarkanth Reddy - and Sub-Inspectors - Jagadishwar Reddy, Narsimha Rao, Satyanarayana, Hanumantha Rao, D. Prathap, Kothwal Ramesh, Janaiah, Shankar, Venkat Reddy, Somnath and Jyothi.

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