Woman among 4 held for kidnapping a hotel manager

Jhansi: Police arrested four persons, including a woman, on Thursday in connection with the kidnapping of a hotel manager following a brief encounter, officials said.Circle Officer City Laxmikant Gautam said the victim, Bharat Srivas (27), worked as a manager at a hotel near Kacheri Chauraha.

On Tuesday, he allegedly received a call from a woman claiming to be a customer whose vehicle had broken down near the Nandanpura canal and asking for assistance.When Bharat reached the spot on his motorcycle, he was allegedly abducted by Rohini Sutkar (21), her husband Rohit Purohit (30), and their associates Brijendra Dubey (44) and Hritik Ahirwar (20), all residents of neighbouring Niwari district in Madhya Pradesh.Police said the accused bundled Bharat into a car and took him to forested areas of Niwari, from where they allegedly contacted his father, Krishan, and demanded a ransom of Rs 50,000 through online transfer. On Wednesday morning, Krishan transferred Rs 30,000 and approached the police, following which a case was registered against unidentified persons.Officials said the accused later released Bharat at an isolated location, from where he returned home safely.

Acting on a tip-off on Thursday, police teams intercepted the accused near Bhagwantpura area and arrested them after a brief encounter.Police recovered two country-made pistols, live cartridges and the vehicle allegedly used in the crime. All four accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sent to judicial custody.