Una youth alleges abduction, assault at gunpoint

Some miscreants abducted an automobile mechanic shop owner at gunpoint from his premises at Dehlan village late last evening. They took him to a forest area in Behdala village and allegedly beat him up mercilessly. Leaving him for dead, the abductors threw him into a water body before taking away his cash and jewellery.

The youth, identified as Shubham Raizada of Santoshgarh Municipal committee area, said a local resident dragged him out of the water body and took him to hospital.

A fortnight ago, Shubham had helped the police seize an illegal pistol, allegedly belonging to a gang of local criminals. Shubham, who is admitted to the Una district hospital, told the media that he was shoved into a car at gunpoint.

The abductors took him to a secluded forest area in the nearby Behdala village where some others were waiting. In all, Subham said there were 9 to 10 youth who began beating him up with iron rods, demanding that he should return their weapon, which was seized by the police.

He said he recognised one of the assailants as Minkal, a resident of Santoshgarh. Shubham said, “One of the assailants made a video call to Sudhanshu Khattri, a resident of Santoshgarh, who ordered that I be thrown into the Satluj canal in Nangal. However, they changed their mind and dumped me into a nearby water body before taking away Rs 22,000 cash and a golden bracelet from me.”

In a release issued today, the Una police said a case under relevant sections of the BNS and Arms Act had been registered and investigations were underway against unknown assailants.