Trader rescued within 45 minutes of abduction

HYDERABAD: Swift action led to the rescue of a 45-year-old trader from the clutches of kidnappers within 45 minutes of the incident being reported, Vikarabad police said on Tuesday.

Police said that the trader, G. Balraj, dropped his daughter at a school in BDS Colony, Vikarabad, on his two-wheeler and was returning home when a red car intercepted him. Three persons got down from the car and forced Balraj into the vehicle and drove away.

A local who saw the incident called the police. A team reached the spot, asked around and found the car’s registration number, and managed to get Balraj’s mobile number.

Police began tracking Balraj’s SIM and found it on the outskirts of Athvelly village, a few kilometres from Vikarabad. A police team went to the spot. On spotting them, the kidnappers abandoned Balraj and tried to escape, Vikarabad inspector T. Srinivas said.

One policeman took Balraj to a local hospital while the rest of the team chased the accused and caught them 1.5 km away.

The mastermind was identified as Madhav Reddy, who had hired two labourers to kidnap Balraj. The trader is unhurt. Srinivas said.

Police said Balraj and Madhav Reddy were former partners in a goat farm. They had fallen out after running into losses.

Madhav Reddy, who had invested money, blamed the losses on Balraj and demanded that he pay up.