Youth kidnaps own brother for ransom

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Mar 12 (UNI) The city police today arrested a 23-year-old youth who had kidnapped his own younger brother for a ransom of Rs 25,000.

The kidnapped boy was today returned to his parents after being held in captivity by his elder brother for four days.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Navin Chandra Reddy said that a MIDC Police team today laid a trap and arrested Ajit Pille (23) and freed his 12-year-old brother Santosh whom he had kidnapped on March 8 from school.

The accused had stayed in Pune and Nanded during the last three days and had returned to Aurangabad this morning. He was hiding near the Ayappa Temple here since morning, Mr Reddy said.

Acting on a tip off, the police team laid a trap and arrested him around 1630 hrs today, Mr Reddy informed.

The police had already registered an offence against the accused under sections 363 and 384 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) following a complaint lodged by his mother with the police to this effect.

The police also arrested his friend, Pravin Laghane, for allegedly assisting him in the kidnapping.

The accused, Ajit, who had been jobless for quite some time after losing his job in a leading telecom company, had allegedly kidnapped Santosh from his school in CIDCO locality on March 8 for want of money, the police said.

Ajit had called up his residence and asked his mother to deposit Rs 25,000 in his friend Pravin Laghane's account in exchange for the release of Santosh.

The accused would be produced before the local court tomorrow, Mr Reddy said.

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