Prof abducted in MP

Jabalpur, May 17 (UNI) Three youths abducted a professor of the local Rani Durgavati University after inviting him on the pretext of conducting 'Bhagwat Katha'.

Prof Radhika Prasad Mishra was freed by police late last night and two of the accused arrested.

''On May 14, Prof Mishra stepped out of his local residence to head for Seoni district headquarters to conduct a Sanskrit exam. At that juncture Rajesh Patel alias Bharat reached the place. For about the past fortnight he had been asking the Professor, over telephone, to conduct 'Bhagwat Katha' at his home,'' Superintendent of Police Makrand Deuskar told reporters here today.

When their Seoni-bound bus reached Chhapara village at night, Patel told Prof Mishra that his father was unwell and requested the professor to meet him and also take stock of the site where the Katha was to take place. The duo alighted and Patel's friend Balram was already waiting on a motorbike. The Professor was taken to a farm, tied up, his cellphone snatched and ransom demanded.

Yesterday, Prof Mishra called up his son Yogesh here, told him that he was in ''grave trouble'' and Rs 1 lakh should be arranged for and handed over to Raju near a railway crossing on the Gotegaon-Narsinghpur road.

Mr Yogesh alerted the police. Raju and Balram were apprehended near the crossing and the Professor freed.

UNI