Seven members of the gang, all of whom are below 30, were arrested while abducting Anirudra Gautam, a local contractor, after the latter refused to pay extortion money. [break]
Those arrested include Nabaraj Parajuli, 29, of Wangthali-2 in Kavre, Roshan Tamang, 21, of Sarsyiukharka-2 in Kavre, Anil Bhandari, 19, of Pida-5 in Dhading, Saroj Khadka, 20, of Chalalganesthan-6 in Kavre, Santosh Tamang, 22 and Bijaya Lama, 20, of Kanpur-2 in Kavre and Durgalal Sunuwar, 30, of Himganga-6 in Ramechhap district.
Police have seized six motorcycles used by seven abductors. Police have also found three motorcycles abandoned by them in the jungle, according to Kavre district police chief DSP Surendra Prasad Mainali.
The extorters had claimed 10 per cent of the total budget sanctioned for building a health post in Dhuseni Shivalaya-2 from Gautam. The division office of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DoUDBC) had sanctioned Rs 9.3 for constructing the health post.
“A few days ago, Nabaraj Parajuli, who is also my distant relative, came along with his friends to claim a slice of the budget. I asked them to see me in Banepa on February 14," Gautam, who lodged a formal complaint against the arrested kidnappers, told Republica.
Gautam added, "They called me last Saturday night and threatened to finish me off if I did not give them the money by February 9. I used to keep my mobile phone switched off at night ever since."
On Tuesday afternoon, the gang led by Parajuli abducted Gautam from the construction site. "I was forced to ride on Parajuli´s motorcycle," Gautam said. Police rescued Gautam when kidnappers were taking him to Dolalghat of Sindhupalchowk.
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