Teenaged NRI boy abducted in Punjab

CHANDIGARH - A non-resident Indian teenaged boy, who holds US citizenship, has been abducted in Punjab and his family has received a ransom demand of Rs.55 lakh for his release, police said Thursday.

According to police, 17-year-old Gagandeep Singh, an American citizen, was studying in Adampur town near Jalandhar city, around 500 km from Chandigarh. He was abducted Tuesday.

Gagandeep was staying in Adampur with his mother Santosh Kaur. Earlier they were based in the US but after the death of his father, the family came to Punjab a couple of years ago.

“After coming back from school on Tuesday, Gagandeep took Rs.500 and went to a grocery shop. But did not return,” said Onkar Singh, the victim’s relative.

“Yesterday, we got a call from him from his own mobile phone. He said that he was kidnapped by some unknown persons, who had mercilessly beaten him,” said Singh.

“So far, we have received four-five calls from the kidnappers and they have demanded Rs.55 lakh for the safe release of Gagandeep,” he said.

Gagandeep belongs to a rich landlord family of this region.

Police were tight-lipped over the progress made in investigations.

“Our investigation is on and we are trying to ascertain the location of the kidnappers through the surveillance of mobile towers,” said Sharad Satya Chauhan, deputy inspector general (Jalandhar range), while talking to reporters here Thursday.

“Our priority is to save the life of the teenager,” he said.