M A I N   N E W S

Kidnappers release Kislay, Dipak

Patna, February 2
Kislay Komal, a school student whose abduction a fortnight ago here had become a major election issue in Bihar, and another kidnapped student in Bhagalpur, Dipak Bharti, were freed and united with their families today, a day before the first phase of state Assembly poll.

Kidnapped by armed men on January 19, Kislay, a class IX student of Delhi Public School, was released by his captors in the Separa locality here this morning, while Dipak, a standard IX student of DAV Public School at Bhagalpur, abducted on January 25, walked to freedom at Kantainthi village in Bhagalpur, officials said.

The two boys returned to the arms of their parents to an emotional reunion.

Another DAV student Ravikant who went missing on January 24 in Biharsharif is still to be traced and the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Bihar Public School Association observed a bandh in the town today to protest his abduction.

Giving details on release of 14-year-old Kislay, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police N H Khan said acting on information provided by two persons arrested last night, the police had cordoned off the entire Separa area forcing his abductors to free him.

A highly traumatised Kislay surfaced on the road this morning in the Separa locality as the police mounted pressure on his captors. The policemen traced Kislay, who was not ready to disclose his identity, and brought him to his Patel Nagar residence, Mr Khan said describing it as “a major success”.

Earlier, ten persons, including the mother and sister of Vicky, a close associate of gangster Chunnu Thakur, now lodged in Hajipur jail, were taken into custody in connection with the kidnapping of Kislay.

The kidnapping sparked widespread protests by students who staged a sit-in before the Raj Bhavan, launched relay fast, stopped taking tiffins to schools and petitioned President A P J Abdul Kalam and Bihar Governor Buta Singh seeking Kislay’s release. A number of guradians also joined the protests.

The police are clueless about Ravikant, a student of DAV public school, Biharsharif, who was kidnapped on January 24. Dipak Kumar, another student of DAV public school, Bhagalpur went missing a day later.

Meanwhile in Bhagalpur, back from the clutches of “bloodthirsty” kidnappers who had held him captive for a week, schoolboy Dipak Bharti today credited a friend for his rescue.

“It was my friend Dabru who saved me,” Bharti said soon after he was reunited with his family, disputing the police claim that he was freed because of their pressure. The police had claimed that the class IX student of local DAV school had been released after the police conducted intensive raids, building up pressure on the abductors.

Bharti said after he was abducted here on January 25, he was masked and taken to a hilly location many km away.

“They held me captive for seven days. They seemed very bloodthirsty and wanted both money and my life,” he said.

The teenager said he was rescued by his friend Dabru, but did not clarify how.

Bharti’s release came shortly after the rescue of Kislay Komal in Patna.

Their kidnapping had become a major political issue and triggered widespread agitations by students and guardians.

Chief Minister Bihar Rabri Devi said the police were also investigating “from which parties criminals existed.”

RJD Chief Laloo Prasad Yadav alleged that gangster Chunnu Thakur who was involved in Kislay’s abduction, had links with the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan.

He claimed that Thakur wanted the LJP ticket for his wife, who was also held in connection with the kidnapping.

Reacting strongly to the RJD chief’s charge, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan described the kidnapping and subsequent release of Kislay as “stage-managed”.

Mr Prasad said “the police pressure” forced the kidnappers to leave Kislay.

He also lambasted the BJP for using the kidnapping issue to “tarnish the image of Bihar”.

“People, especially the BJP leaders, have been trying to bring a bad name to Bihar and cause damage to its image by saying there is no law and order here,” Mr Prasad said.

“It seems from their speeches that such things happen only in Bihar. Do they not take place in Uttar Pradesh or Delhi,” he asked.

“Law and order situation in Bihar is far better than other states,” he added.

Mr Prasad said, “I am very happy that our child has returned safely,” Mr Prasad said shortly after the Delhi Public School student was reunited with his family here.

“Those who were trying to make political capital out of the kidnapping and organising protests should have realised that it could have put his life in danger. They should have desisted from this,” the Railway Minister added.

Mr Prasad said he had been monitoring the entire rescue operation and was informed by police officials immediately after the boy was rescued this morning.

“We were confident the police would be able to recover Kislay and it was done. Kislay has returned unharmed,” Mr Prasad said.

Admitting that there had been several incidents of kidnapping of children as the police and administration were busy with preparations for elections, he said “their cases have not been projected by the media but we are concerned about all of them.” — PTI