Are kidnappers back in Bihar?

But the recovery of Sohel Hingora, son of Surat-based textile magnet, from the house a small-time politician in Chapra town on 30 November has opened a can of worms. Fingers are being pointed at politicians, including legislators from the ruling Janata Dal (United) in the state, for their role in the high-profile kidnapping case.

The arrest of Ranjit Singh in connection with the case, in which a ransom of Rs 25 crore was paid by the victim’s father Hanif Hingora, indicate that the business of kidnapping may well be back in the state. The incident, somehow, may prove costly to Nitish Kumar, who wrested power from the RJD riding on the issue of poor law and order situation. During the Lalu-Rabri regime, kidnapping was rampant in the state.

‘He was taken to 40 different places before the payment was made in Patna. After his release, what my son told me about his experience proves that a big gang is operating under the patronage of politicians and the police,’ Hanif said. According to him, the ransom was paid at the house of a ruling JD(U) minister he did not name. He alleged that Sohail was kept in the house of a police officer in Saran district. The senior Hingora has now written a letter to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar giving details of the incident.

Shaken by the incident, Nitish has ordered an inquiry into the case and said nobody will be spared if found guilty, whatever his position may be. Meanwhile, Saran superintendent of police Varun Kumar Sinha said a fresh FIR has been lodged against Nagamani Singh and his four sons – Ranjit, Deepak, Santosh and Sonu – at the Nayagaon police station. Reportedly, the victim was kept hostage in a house owned by Nagmani Singh in Chaturpur under Nayagaon police station in Chapra district. Nagmani Singh, the father of Ranjit, is an assistant sub-inspector and posted at Giridih in Jharkhand.

Talking to Millennium Post, Daman SP Atul Kumar said, ‘All the three accused have been granted 9 days of police remand by a local court’. The Daman police with the cooperation of their Bihar and Jharkhand counterparts had arrested three persons so far in this connection – two from Jharkhand and one Ranjit from Chapra in Bihar. Ranjit, the brother of kingpin Deepak Kumar, was arrested on 14 December from the Patna Medical College Hospital where he was admitted for some injury sustained during a fight in Chapra.

‘Once we arrest Deepak, we will know who all are involved in the abduction and how it was carried out,’ the Daman SP said. ‘Also a video footage of Ranjit’s wedding has been recovered and we are probing the footage,’ the Daman SP said.

Reportedly, Ranjit got married during the time Sohail was kidnapped and released. A minister in the Nitish Kumar government and an MLC were also present at the function. Sohel Hingora was kidnapped from Dhimpore in Daman on 29 October, when he was on his way to the factory, the Daman SP said. The Bihar police have admitted a ransom amount of Rs 9 crore was paid. Sohail’s father, however said he had paid Rs 25 crore and could prove it.