Cops still in dark on Sitapur candidate’s ‘kidnapping’

A case was also registered at the Sitapur Kotwali on the same night.

Dr Preetinder Singh,Superintendent of Police of Sitapur,said: “Though the sequence of event appeared mysterious,we are investigating the kidnapping theory. Separate police teams have been sent to Jhansi and Lucknow to trace the victim.”

Singh said Fauji’s son Amit Kumar,who had lodged the FIR,told the police that his father had left home around 7 am on Wednesday to take a stroll. He rang him up at 11 am stating that he was at Charbagh railway station in Lucknow and was heading for Dewa Sharif in Barabanki.

In the FIR,Amit stated that his father made another call on the landline around 6:05 pm and informed them about the kidnapping.

According to Singh,Director General of Police Vikram Singh has roped in the state Special Task Force to aid the police in the case. The team is already camping in Sitapur to crack the case,Singh added.

While STF Inspector General KL Meena confirmed that a team is already working in the case along with the Sitapur police,STF Senior Superintendent of Police Amitabh Yash said no STF team has been involved in this case.

In the meanwhile,Amit said: “We have no enmity which could lead to the kidnapping of my father. We also do not suspect the role of any rival candidate behind the incident.”

Fauji retired from the Army nine years ago. He had contested the 2004 Lok Sabha election as an Independent candidate.