A police team from Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), Hanumandhoka, had begun a hunt for the kidnappers, following the safe release of Sharada after paying a hefty ransom on June 13, eight days after his kidnapping from his private residence at Thapathali height. [break]
The arrested have been identified as Hem Kumar Lama, 36, aka Dawa Dorje from Dharan Municipality in Sunsari, Tek Bahadur Tamang, 28, from Purano Jhakajholi VDC-7 in Sindhuli, Niranjan Khanal, 23, from Dharna VDC-1 in Dang, Kumar Rai, 24, from Chipring VDC-4 in Khotang, Dipendra Timalsina, 23, from Sangla VDC-7 in Kathmandu and Batti Man Lama, 33, from Khanalthok VDC-9 in Kavre.
Police also arrested Sharada´s driver -- Kumar Gurung, 26, from Namtar VDC-8 in Makawanpur -- for his involvement in the kidnapping.
While Kumar Lama was released after serving a five-year jail term for his involvement in looting goods in Bhatbhateni Supermarket, Tamang was released after a six-year jail term in 2006 for a looting at New Road. Khanal was first arrested for looting cash from Nabil Bank in Kantipath five years ago and released after serving a two-year jail-term.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Birendra Babu Shrestha, chief of the division, the armed gang broke into Sharada´s residence on June 5 and looted cash and other valuables after overpowering all members in the family before whisking away Sharada in a silver-colored Pajero.
According to preliminary investigation, Niranjan Khanal, Kumar Rai and Hem Kumar Lama were the mastermind behind the kidnapping after they came in contact with notorious kidnappers Amar Tandan and Rajesh Agrawal in Central Jail. They had executed the plan along with five accomplices including Sharada´s driver. They had secured help of some four Indian nationals to execute the kidnap plan.
Investigation has found that the kidnappers kept Sharada hostage in a poultry farm belonging the Dipendra Timilsina in Sangla VDC-7.
Police have recovered seven mobile phone sets, 30 pieces of silver utensils, Rs 20,000 in cash, one homemade pistol and 12 rounds of its bullets from the arrested persons. The kidnappers are found to have used pistols, iron rods and khukuris to overpower Sharada family.
The kidnappers have lately begun targeting Marwari community, comprising businessmen of both Indian and Nepali nationalities, who are generally considered affluent. Police officials believe that organized criminals consider Marwari businessmen as ´soft targets´ as they do not seek trouble and "quietly" pay ransom to have their kin freed unharmed.
Police officials privately admit that equally large number of people from other communities are kidnapped in Kathmandu Valley, but only a few cases are reported to the police partly because the victims do not want to take risk on the backdrop of the kidnappers´ threat to take the lives of the hostages.
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