4 kidnappers held

Four men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a priest and demanding a ransom of R20 lakh from his wife, police said on Wednesday.

Four men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a priest and demanding a ransom of R20 lakh from his wife, police said on Wednesday.

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"The victim, Om Prakash, was rescued from Dhaulpur in Rajasthan on November 5 and the arrested have been identified as Rajbir (27), Damodhar (25), Neeraj (26) and Bharat Singh (53). They were nabbed when they came to collect the ransom," said a senior Delhi Police officer from the investigation team.

According to police, Om Prakash is a resident of north Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tilla area and used to perform religious rituals at the homes of his clients. He had gone out on October 26 for the same. When he didn't return for several days, his wife intimated the police on October 31.

"A team, specially constituted to investigate the matter, was stationed at the Dhaulpur bus stand where the abductors insisted on collecting the ransom money. When they came to collect the ransom, two of them, Rajbir and Damodar, were arrested," said the officer.

Police said the duo were subjected to sustained interrogation and finally led the police to the Chambal Ghati, in Madhya Pradesh's Muraina from where Om Prakash was rescued.

Police said Neeraj had come to Om Prakash's house and told him that his aunt, who stays in Muraina, was seriously ill.

Neeraj requested Om Prakash to accompany him to Muraina to perform a religious ceremony at Muraina for her wellness.

"On this pretext, Neeraj took Om Prakash to Muraina but instead of taking him home, he and his associates dragged Om Prakash to their hideout in the forest and confined him there. We are investigating his involvement in other crimes committed in and around the Capital as well," the officer added.