New Delhi (Agency): Two men were arrested in New Delhi for allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old Class 9 girl. They lured her with the promise of settling in Nepal for a career in fashion designing. The kidnappers then demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh (around $67,000) from her father. The police managed to rescue the girl and arrest the culprits.
The accused have been identified as 18-year-old Ravi Kumar, from Behta, Uttar Pradesh, and 24-year-old Akash, from Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. The mother of the girl, a resident of Tahirpur, filed a police complaint on Wednesday, stating that her daughter did not return from her tuition class at Janta colony. The girl’s mobile phone was found switched off, which further alarmed the family.
The family immediately searched for the girl at the tuition center and nearby areas but were unable to locate her. Later that night, they received a ransom call demanding Rs 50 lakh from their daughter’s phone number. An unknown person threatened the family, saying she would be harmed if they did not pay, a senior police officer reported.
The police swiftly launched an investigation, analyzing 60 to 70 CCTV cameras in the area. The victim was spotted on footage going towards the Mansarover Park Metro Station. One of the suspects, Ravi Kumar, was later identified and apprehended near Kashmere Gate as he was attempting to take a train to Bihar, according to Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rohit Meena.
During the interrogation, the DCP revealed that Ravi had a habit of trading in the share market. Hence, he plotted the entire kidnapping plan with his friend Akash to get some “easy money.” The victim initially got in touch with Ravi through Instagram. There, he deliberately and purposefully enticed her with the idea of going to Nepal for fashion designing.
After kidnapping the girl, the criminals demanded Rs 50 lakh from her family. The girl was eventually rescued from Behta in Loni, Uttar Pradesh, and the police arrested Akash as well. Two mobile phones belonging to the accused, on which the planning was made, and the victim’s phone used for demanding ransom were recovered, the DCP added.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, raising concerns over the safety of young girls and the role of social media in such crimes. It also highlights the efficiency and determination of the local police in solving the case promptly.
Parents, educators, and law enforcement agencies are now calling for increased vigilance on social media platforms. They are urging the need for education about online safety, especially for teenagers who might be vulnerable to such luring tactics.
In a statement, a local child rights activist said, “This incident is a harsh reminder of the dangers lurking online. Parents and schools must work together to educate our children about the risks and how to stay safe. They must understand that not everyone they interact with online has good intentions.”