A priest and his seven students were rescued by the Pune police on Saturday after they were held captive by an extortion gang in Karnataka. During the inter-state operation three members of the gang were also arrested.
According to a report by Indian Express, the identified accused were Ramu Apparay Balun, 29, Datta Shivaji Kare, 20, and Harshad Suresh Patil, 22. They all are residents of Sangli district in Maharashtra.
Priest, His Students Kidnap After Invitation To Perform Rituals
Police said the accused contacted the priest via Instagram on September 29, 2024, and invited him and his students to perform rituals at a home in Bijapur, Karnataka. Upon arrival, they were kidnapped, and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore from the priest's family.
The priest's father lodged an FIR at Bibwewadi police station in Pune, leading an investigation that traced the victims to Sindhanur, Karnataka, the police said.
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“With the help of the local police, we first rescued the priest and his three pupils from a room at a secluded spot in Sindhanur. Further, we rescued four more pupils from another location. Also, our team nabbed three persons and seized sharp weapons used by them for committing the crime,” Mangal Modhve, Senior Police Inspector also said.
The Pune police revealed that the captors had stolen valuables item and physically tortured the victims. Local residents in Karnataka also aided in capturing the kidnappers.
“The case was solved within a couple of days after it was reported to us. The accused persons have a previous criminal record. They have committed similar crimes in the past. The accused came to know about the priest from Instagram. They then decided to kidnap him and his pupils and demand money for their release. We have rescued all victims safely. Further investigation is on,” Modhve further added.