Valley`s major kidnapping ring busted

KATHMANDU, Jan 16: In a major achievement in the fight against crime, Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), Hanumandhoka, busted a criminal ring responsible for at least 13 major kidnapping cases in Kathmandu Valley.



Police on Friday made public five persons including the mastermind of the kidnappings Uday Shetty alias Arjun amidst a press conference. [break]Shetty, who hails from Kalyan, Muwad Road Thana district, India, first came to Nepal in 2004.



Five others of the kidnapping gang are still at large, police said.



The other arrested are Pralhad Mahat alias Sabin from Hariwan VDC-4, Sarlahi, Bishnu GC alias Sanjeev from Jhadewa VDC-3, Palpa, Tashi Gurung alias Soaltee from Phaleni VDC-8, Lamjung, and Bikash Karki alias Bablu from Barhathawa, Sarlahi district. Police have recovered a Maruti car, two motorcycles, a pistol, eight bullets and Rs 811,735 in cash from them.




Police said the gang was behind the kidnappings of famous businessmen Mahesh Murarka, Shiva Sarawagi, Pawan Agrawal, Anitya Gurung, Umesh Garga, Dilip Agrawal, Smit Sherchan, and Dr Ashutosh. They had extorted Rs 26.9 million in ransom with Murarka paying the highest ransom of Rs 7.7 million.



The gang, however, had to release two of its victims -- Ishwar Dutta Pandey and Tika Ram Aryal – without any ransom due to timely police intervention.



Police investigator Krishna Koirala said the five kidnappers were arrested in connection with the investigation related to the kidnappings of one Niraj Kakshapati, 18, of Samakhusi and Babu Raja Rawal, 32, of Balaju. The kidnapping gang had released Rawal after receiving a ransom of Rs 15 million — the highest amount ever. Kakshyapati family had paid Rs 5 million for the release.



They had abducted Kakshyapati from Samakhusi area on January 28 and Rawal from Balaju area on December 16, 2008.



Inspector Koirala said the gang was found to have taken houses in Dharapati and Dhapasi area in Kathmandu on rent to keep the kidnapped person as hostages.



Police said Shetty and his accomplice Mahat had fled to India after police busted their gang last year. They had come back recently and formed a new gang with the help of eight others. Police officials said the gang had abducted Kakshayapati and Rawal after forming the new gang.