HYDERABAD: Wednesday’s abduction bid is not the first of its kind at the KBR park. Top sources confirmed to Express that a few months ago, a person from an influential family was kidnapped at gunpoint near the park. But it wasn’t reported to the police, though unofficially some officials were involved in securing the safe release of the victim.
Sources said the victim in question had returned from his morning walk and as he got into his SUV, an assailant, reportedly armed with an AK-47, forced his way into the car and pointed the weapon at him — in almost exactly the same way Aurobindo Pharma director Nityananda Reddy was sought to be kidnapped on Wednesday.
But unlike in Reddy’s case, there was no scuffle and the victim was indeed abducted. “Later, the kidnapper threatened him with death and quickly got the victim to make calls to his family members for ransom. The matter then reached the victim’s close relative, who is a well-connected person. He got in touch with some police officials and then began the process of the victim’s release in exchange for ransom,” the sources said.
Though how much ransom was paid and how, remains unclear, sources indicated it was “huge money” arranged within hours, giving no scope for the matter to get out of control. Asked why no police complaint was lodged, the sources said it was at the request of the victim’s relative that no case was registered. “Even in that case, the assailant was armed with an AK-47 and this could perhaps be the same weapon that was used in Wednesday’s offence at the KBR park,” the sources said adding that only a few officials were aware of the earlier ‘unofficial operation’ which ended with the safe release of the victim.
Sources said if Wednesday’s attempt was made by the same man, he would have been emboldened by his previous ‘success.’
47 shades of grey
The identity of the former member of the elite anti-Naxal force, Greyhounds, who sought to kidnap Nityananda Reddy for a ransom, remains unclear. But it appears he has been taken into custody. Involvement of an ex-Greyhound is unprecedented and has shocked the police.