Seven-yr-old abducted child rescued in 24 hours; key suspect killed, 2 held

Residents of villages in Ludhiana and Amargarh subdivision of Malerkotla district supported the massive operation of the police to rescue a seven-year-old child who was abducted late on Wednesday evening from Seehan Daud village.

Cutting across party lines, a large number of residents reached the residence of Gurjant Singh, the victim’s grandfather, when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, accompanied by Amargarh legislator Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Payal legislator Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav, handed over the child, Bhawkirat Singh, to his family.

The main suspect in the kidnapping case was killed in an encounter and his two accomplices were nabbed by the police.

Residence of the key suspect, Jaspreet Singh, who was allegedly killed in an encounter with the Patiala police during the day, wore a deserted look.

Jaspreet’s father Lakhwinder Singh Bittu, who had remained associated with the rescue operation till Thursday afternoon, was busy contacting police personnel for knowing updates in the case.

As Jaspreet, who is unmarried, had been staying in Canada, villagers were shocked to know about his involvement in the crime. As per sources, he came to the village recently.

The families of the victim and the suspect were close to each other and probably their intimacy turned out to be the reason behind Jaspreet’s intention to seek a handsome ransom from the boy’s kin.

Cheema appreciates efforts by residents, cops

While handing over Bhawkirat to the family, Cheema appreciated residents of Seehan Daud and surrounding villages for extending support to the police in tracking the motorcycle-borne kidnappers, besides lauding police personnel, led by Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav, Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh and Patiala SSP Nanak Singh.

Gurjant Singh, grandfather of Bhawkirat, Ranvir Singh (father) and Jaspreet Kaur (mother), thanked all for facilitating the safe return of their child within 24 hours of the incident.

“The coordinated efforts made by the Khanna, Malerkotla and Patiala police to rescue our son have changed our perception about the functioning of the police,” said Ranvir, adding that words of consolation by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann meant a lot for the family.

Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra said teachers and students of Tara Convent School, Malerkotla, where Bhawkirat was studying in Class I, also heaved a sigh of relief on hearing the child's safe return to home in the afternoon.

Patiala DIG Mandeep Sidhu said prompt and coordinated action by the Khanna, Malerkotla and Patiala police had helped in rescuing the child safely and nabbing the two suspects.

Had the Amargarh police, led by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, DSP Davinder Singh Sandhu and DSP Satish Kumar, not chased and nabbed the two persons, the Patiala police could not have known about the whereabouts of Jaspreet, from whose captivity Bhawkirat was rescued.