Abducted child rescued after paying Tk 1.5 lakh

Md Shamim, 17, maternal uncle of the child, who claimed to have negotiated with the abductors, was arrested as the prime suspect.

The child's father, Md Giasuddin alias Chan Mia, who worked in Saudi Arabia, returned home eight months ago. Shamim, who appeared at the last SSC examination, came to his house two days ago.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

On Thursday morning, Shamim took Prince out of the house for break fast.

At about 2 pm, Chand Mia got a mobile phone call that his son was abducted. The caller asked him to come to Nathullabad bus stand in Barisal city with Tk 1.5 lakhs to free his son.

The caller threatened him not to inform police.

Chan Mia came to Barisal and informed police. Plainclothes police followed Chand Mia.

As directed by the abductors over phone, Chand Mia reached under a krishnachura tree at Nathullabd bus. He was then directed to go at Jail Gate Crossing on the Sadar Road.

There, Shamim told Chand Mia that he was negotiating with the abductors. Chand Mia handed over the ransom to Shamin. He went away asking Chand Mia to wait.

After some time Shamim returned with the abducted child. Waiting plainclothes police arrested him.

Police said Shamim planned the abduction. But the money realised from the child's father could not be recovered.

Shamim told police that one Sabuj and his accomplices abducted him along with Prince from Rajapur and forced them on gunpoint to contact Chan Mia for ransom.

Talking to newsmen later in the evening, Chand Mia alleged that others involved in the abduction and the money could be recovered had police been more vigilant since he complained to them.