Seven-year-old boy rescued within 24 hrs, kidnapper killed in gunfight

DGP Gaurav Yadav announced cash reward of ₹10 lakh for police team that successfully rescued the child

- Tarsem Singh Deogan

LUDHIANA: The Punjab Police rescued a seven-year-old boy within 24 hours of his abduction for a ₹1-crore ransom with the main accused being killed in an exchange of fire with cops at Mandour Khera village on Nabha Road in Patiala, police said on Thursday. Three policemen were also injured in the gunfight, they said.

Director general of police Gaurav Yadav has announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakh for the police team in successfully rescuing the child.

Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who handed over the rescued boy to the family at Seehan Daud village on Thursday evening, warned that "people indulging in such heinous crimes would face encounters as there is no place for such people in our 'rangla' Punjab".

Bhawkirat Singh, a Class 1 student, was abducted by two motorcycle-borne kidnappers when he was playing outside his house in Seehan Daud village in Khanna around 6 pm on Wednesday, the police said.