Kidnapped petrol pump employee rescued by Punjab Police

Bathinda, Feb 26 (UNI) In a well planned operation, the Punjab Police today succeeded in freeing a petrol pump employee from his kidnappers after a brief exchange of fire.

Three of the abductors identified as Jaskaran Singh, Pargat Singh and Mithu were arrested along with weapons after the exchange of fire near Mehma Sarkari village this morning. However two of their associates, Binder Singh and Darshan Singh managed to give a slip to the police.

Faridkot SSP Arunpal Singh said that Chandershekhar, the petrol pump employee was kidnapped on Friday last from Jaito and a sum of Rs 20 lakh was demanded for his release. However after negotiations over telephone, the kidnappers scaled down their demand to Rs 1.50 lakh.

The SSP said that as planned two relatives of the petrol pump employee took the cash to Mehma Sarkari village and handed over the money to the kidnappers. After the kidnapped employee was handed over to his relatives, a police party in civil clothes converged on the hideout of the abductors and asked them to surrender, he said adding that after an exchange of fire, three persons were taken into custody, while the other two managed to escape.

Sukhdev Kaur, mother of Jaskaran Singh was also taken into custody as the kidnapped employee was kept in the house where she was staying, the SSP said.

UNI