10th grader kidnaps 2nd class boy for ransom, gets caught in hours

Hyderabad: In a shocking incident, a tenth class student on Sunday kidnapped a 7-year-old son of a software employee under Meerpet police station limits and demanded victim boy's father a ransom of Rs 3 lakh.

According to Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat, a complaint was received from Gurram Raju (38), a resident of PSR Nagar in Badangpet, stating that his son Arjun went missing when he was playing with a 6-year-old boy in their colony.

Parents of Arjun have searched for him in all possible places but could not find him. Meantime, the victim's father received a call from the kidnapper, who demanded Rs 3 lakh and threatened to kill Arjun if he informs police.

Based on the complaint, Meerpet police registered a case and took up the investigation. A special team was formed with the assistance of Special Operations Team (SOT) sleuths of LB Nagar and made the victim boy's father to be in regular touch with the caller.

On the directions of police, Gurram Raju agreed to pay Rs 25,000 cash and hand over a cheque of Rs 2.75 lakh as demanded by the kidnapper to track his location.

After tracking his hiding spot, the special teams apprehended the kidnapper at Almasguda and took him into custody. On interrogation, the kidnapper led the police to Sri Prasannanjaneya temple in Almasguda from where they rescued Arjun safely.

The special teams have cracked the case within four hours. The police officials baffled on knowing the kidnapper is a minor and shocked to know that he threatened the father of the victim over phone by changing his tone.

The CP said that the kidnapper is a juvenile and habituated to bad vices. On Sunday at 2:30 pm, kidnapper noticed Arjun was playing near TSR Swimming pool at Meerpet.

After befriending the victim, he invited boy to play with him for which former agreed and both of them reached near the residence of kidnapper at Almasguda.

Afterwards, kidnapper made the victim to sit in

Prasannanjaneya Temple and took phone number of Arjun's father and called him in high pitch by changing his voice to create fear that there is an imminent threat to his son.

The Commissioner advised the parents to keep watch on children and not to leave them unattended in the company of unknown persons. He further advised them to ensure that their children know about mobile numbers of their family members.