Chandigarh: Punjab police on Thursday claimed to have rescued a seven-year-old boy, kidnapped from a village in Ludhiana district Wednesday evening, after neutralising one of the kidnappers in a police encounter near Nabha road in which three police personnel were also injured.
Detailing the newspersons about the police action Thursday evening, DIG, Patiala Range, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, said that on the evening of March 12, two unidentified motorcycle-borne kidnappers abducted the boy - Bhawkirat Singh - while he was playing outside his house in Seehan Daud, a village in Khanna town of Ludhiana district and demanded Rs 1 crore ransom.
In a swift and well-coordinated operation, Punjab Police successfully rescued 7-year-old Bhavkirat Singh within 24 hours of his abduction from village Sihan Daud.#PunjabPolice #SwiftJustice #ChildRescued #NoPlaceForCrime pic.twitter.com/V4bhqJRqUe
— Patiala Range Police (@PatialaRange) March 13, 2025
Acting swiftly after being informed about the abduction, the police swung into action and tracked the kidnappers to village Mandour on Nabha road. When confronted, the accused attempted to flee in an SUV and opened fire on the police.
In retaliatory action, the key accused Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Seehan Daud) was neutralised, the DIG said and added that two other accused - Harpreet Singh and Ravi Bhinder, were arrested and the child rescued. A 32-bore pistol and a motorcycle used in the crime were recovered from them, DIG added.
He said that the DGP has also announced a Rs 10 lakh cash reward and promotions for the police personnel involved in the action to rescue the boy.
Kudos to @PunjabPoliceInd and @DGPPunjabPolice for solving kidnapping case of 7-year-old Bhavkirat Singh within 24 hrs. I personally handed him over to his parents. CM @BhagwantMann Ji closely monitored the operation, reaffirming his commitment to the safety of every Punjabi. pic.twitter.com/8Ir2r6u5kR
— Adv Harpal Singh Cheema (@HarpalCheemaMLA) March 13, 2025
NO PLACE FOR CRIMINALS IN PUNJAB: CHEEMA
Meanwhile, Cabinet minister Harpal Cheema reached the village Seehan Daud of Ludhiana with Bhawkirat Singh, who was rescued from the kidnappers.
Lauding the state police for reining in criminals by taking strict and speedy action, Cheema warned that people indulging in such heinous crimes would face encounters as there is no place for such people in Punjab.
Earlier, chief minister Bhagwant Mann also spoke with the parents of the kidnapped child and said in his tweet that there is no place for such notorious elements in Punjab.