Sunil Kumar, a paediatrician, who was abducted from Shaneeshwar Temple at Satyanarayanpet in Ballari on Saturday morning, was found at Somasmudra village in Kurugod taluk late on the same day. The police said that the doctor was safe.
Speaking to The Hindu, Superintendent of Police Shobha Rani confirmed the rescue. “The kidnappers could not move out of the district because of intense police movement. They left the doctor at a remote place and drove away. We will continue the investigation and bring the culprits to justice shortly,” Ms. Rani told The Hindu.
Dr. Kumar was kidnapped around 6.00 a.m. when he was out for a morning walk. Acting swiftly on the incident, Ms. Rani formed three teams to nab the kidnapers and rescue the doctor. The incident had sent shockwaves among the residents of Ballari.
When the doctor resisted the kidnap bid, two people assaulted and overpowered him. Later, they shoved him inside the car and drove off. The incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed in the area. The examination of CCTV footage from the area suggested that the kidnappers moved towards Moka Road on the outskirts of Ballari city.
The kidnappers had made a WhatsApp call from Dr. Sunil’s mobile to his brother and the president of the District Liquor Dealers’ Association Venugopal Gupta and demanded ₹5 crore and gold as ransom for the release of the doctor.
