Four kidnappers shot dead, kin allege fake encounter

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Saturday shot dead four persons who had kidnapped a trader...

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Saturday shot dead four persons who had kidnapped a trader even as family members of the alleged kidnappers accused the police of staging a fake encounter in the Chambal valley.

The incident took place in the Ater area of Bhind where the kidnappers were waiting for ransom. They had kidnapped Keshavchandra Jain, a 70-year-old trader from Bhind town, on March 3 and demanded Rs 10 lakh.

According to Bhind SP Niranjan Vayangankar, the police allowed the ransom to be paid. When they ensured that Jain and the relatives who had brought the money were safe they fired at the kidnappers.

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Rambabu Diwakar, Sonu Ramcharan Kachhi, Girjesh Chakwa and Mohan Munnalal Kori were killed on the spot and rifles and country-made firearms recovered from them, the police said. A motorcycle was also seized from the spot.

DIG (Chambal) D C Sagar said the slain kidnappers were local and had a criminal past. He claimed that no policeman suffered any injuries because they wore bullet-proof vests and were well prepared unlike the kidnappers who were caught off guard. ‘‘I am not aware of any allegations about the encounter being fake,’’ he said.

Jain’s daylight kidnapping when he was on way to a temple had caused panic in the area. The police said Jain was with the kidnappers all the while. ‘‘He is yet to give all details because he was hospitalised immediately after the release,’’ Sagar said.

Late on Saturday, Vayangankar said the family members withdrew the charge and agreed to cremate the bodies.