5 held for kidnapping

Ludhiana, August 24: SARABHA Nagar police arrested five people who allegedly kidnapped and beat a kidnapped youth at Vishal Nagar Chowk. The incident took place at Tuesday night at about 11 pm, when Amritpal Singh alias Happy was kidnapped by 12 persons riding in two cars.

It is learnt that Happy was going on a scooter with his brother Jaspal Singh, a resident of village Phullanwal. Twelve people, some in a Tata Safari and others in a red Accent first stopped the duo, and then forced Happy to come with them. They took him towards Vishal Nagar extension.

In the meanwhile, Jaspal Singh informed the police. Station House Officer of Sarabha Nagar police station Pawanjit Singh, ASI Paramjit SIngh and ASI Vidya Sagar rushed to the spot. When they reached there, they found the accused beating Happy. ‘‘We were informed that the accused has taken Happy with the idea of murdering him, and by the time we reached there, his condition was very pathetic,’’ said SHO Pawanjit Singh.

On seeing the police party, the accused tried to flee but police managed to arrest five of them. Seven others are absconding. Those arrested include Ashok Kumar from Himmat Singh Nagar, Amandeep Singh, Vinod Kumar, Johnson and Anthony from Panjab Mata Nagar.

Pawanjit Singh said that an old group rivalry was the reason behind the incident. Both groups had a long-standing dispute but had earlier reached a compromise at Model Town police station. However, one of the groups headed by Albert, a resident of Dugri, allegedly still nursed a grudge and kidnapped Happy.

The other seven booked by Sarabha Nagar police include Albert and Ashwani of Dugri, Mann, Sunil alias Bobby and Vikas of Vishal Nagar, Pappu of Panjab Mata Nagar and Munish of Haibowal.

Happy is recuperating at civil hospital. Police have recovered his broken scooter, a Tata Safari numbered PB-090-0010 and an Accent car. The five arrested accused have been sent on police remand till August 26.