Man kidnaps 5-year-old niece, asks brother to bring his son back to him

A 28-year-old man and his wife allegedly kidnapped their five-year-old niece. Susamma Kurian reports.

A 28-year-old man and his wife allegedly kidnapped their five-year-old niece. The accused, Gangaram Pawar, did not do this for ransom but instead wanted the girl's father, Shravankumar Pawar, 32, to bring his son back to him.

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Police said that Pawar had twins – both boys – from his first marriage and two daughters with his second wife, Leelabai. One of his sons, Santosh, 13, lived with him and Leelabai till a year ago.

“Santosh went to live with his mother and Pawar wanted him back. However he knew that if he went to his first wife’s village, he would be beaten up. So he kidnapped Sonali, and said that he would give her back to Shravankumar, if the latter would bring his son back to him,” said police inspector Sanjay Satav.

Police further said that Pawar wanted a son but since he had undergone a vasectomy, he could no longer sire one and was hence desperate to get Santosh back.

They also rescued the victim, Sonali, who had been kidnapped from the municipal school in Balkum, Thane, on September 15. On September 21, Pawar called and said that Sonali was with him.

Leelabai had taken Sonali to her maiden home in Yavatmal. She returned to Kopargaon on Saturday and called Pawar up, who had been detained by the police. The police then caught Leelabai and found Sonali.

Shravankumar said that this was the second time that his cousin had kidnapped Sonali. “We never thought he would do this again. He had kidnapped Sonali last year too, when we lived in Bandra. The Kherwadi police rescued our daughter,” said Shravankumar.