School kids held hostage briefly

Chhatarpur, MP, Feb 27 (UNI) A total of 19 students of a private primary school at Chithahari village in this district were held hostage at gunpoint briefly by an absconding criminal to force the villagers to change their statement against him.

Police said Virpal, who was evading arrest since he was made an accused in the murder of Bhagwan Das Rajput at Bhidka village in March last year, held the children in captivity at the class room after forcing the teacher to move out yesterday.

Threatening the children and teacher with a country-made pistol, he demanded the villagers change their statement against him, claiming he was innocent.

However, Virpal after a few hours surrendered before the police who reached the village in the evening on a tip-off by the villagers, police said.

UNI