Debt-ridden man kidnaps neighbour’s daughter for ransom, caught and handed over to police

RAMANAGARA: A man was caught by a group of youths and handed over to the police for allegedly kidnapping his neighbour’s six-year-old daughter and demanding a ransom to clear his debts. The arrested has been identified as Darshan, a resident of Manjunath Nagar in the town.

Darshan had allegedly kidnapped the girl child when she was playing in front of her house on Sunday evening, called her father Santhosh and had demanded Rs 2 lakh for her release. The child was found lying on the ground with her mouth, hands and legs bound with duct tape in the same locality.

The child was found near a cement godown with her mouth gagged and hands and legs tied with duct tape.

On finding the child missing, the parents called the police and also informed the local youths who had installed a Ganesha idol close by. Upon searching, the child was found near a cement godown and handed over to the parents. The alleged kidnapper was thrashed and handed over to the police.

Darshan, a painter, had moved in to the locality with his mother and younger sister only two months ago. Neck deep in debts, he hatched the kidnap plan, it is alleged.