Bihar doctor Pankaj Gupta and his wife Subhra, kidnapped last Friday, were freed today
A doctor and his wife, kidnapped six days ago in Bihar by men in police uniforms, returned home today in a half-drugged state. They were allegedly put on a train to their hometown Gaya by their kidnappers in Uttar Pradesh, who had sensed that the police were closing in.
As the couple reached home, nine kidnappers were arrested, including the mastermind Ajay Kumar, who has a degree in ancient history and once contested a national election.
No ransom was paid, says Bihar police chief PK Thakur.
When the trail led to Lucknow, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sought his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Akhilesh Yadav's help. Today he called and thanked Mr Yadav.
Pankaj Gupta - a leading pediatrician in Gaya - and his wife Subhra, were kidnapped on May 1, when they were on their way home from a wedding. The kidnappers, dressed as policemen, allegedly waylaid the couple on the highway, placed beacons on the doctor's brand new Audi and two other cars to pass off as a VIP convoy, and drove to Lucknow.
"I don't remember much. We were mostly sedated. The kidnappers kept us inside a room. Yesterday, their leader said we are letting you go because you have a good reputation and your wife is very good," Dr Gupta told NDTV.
Two dozen police uniforms and beacons have been recovered from the gang's hideout.
Ajay Kumar, the gang-leader, was allegedly involved in at least four high profile kidnappings, notably one in 2003 in which he demanded a ransom of Rs 10 crore. The 55-year-old is believed to have contested the 1991 Lok Sabha election as a Samajwadi Party candidate and has a house in Delhi's Vasant Vihar.
The gang was on the police radar because of a kidnapping earlier this year.
"We had zeroed in on the particular group and they were under our surveillance. We had some inkling as to where they would keep the hostages," the Bihar police chief told NDTV.