Punjab gang behind Bangalore kidnapping

A Punjab-based terrorist outfit was behind last week's kidnapping of a Bangalore businessman and half-a-dozen cases of abduction in north India.

Bangalore Police Commissioner L Revanasiddhiah said at least a dozen terrorists were involved in these cases. Operating from Allahabad, Delhi, Haryana, Lucknow, and Varanasi, they were working on behalf of interested politicians and businessmen.

At least one legislator and the president of a political party have nexus with the gang, the commissioner alleged. He refused to reveal the names as it would hamper investigations.

Revenasiddiah said in all the cases the terrorists demanded a ransom ranging from Rs 5 million to Rs 10 million. The Bangalore case was the only one in which the police were able to rescue the hostage, a silk merchant, without paying any money. ''It is also to our credit we nabbed five of the 12 terrorists involved," he said.

UNI