LUCKNOW: In a kidnap drama spanning four and half hours, one of the biggest glass traders of India was abducted at gunpoint from Firozabad and then rescued, on Friday.
Sanjay Mittal (44) was abducted from Nagla Bhau crossing, which is near National Highway 2, at south district area of Firozabad in broad day light at around 12:30 pm. He was on his way to his glass factory near Meera Chauraha in his SUV.
However, within hours of the incident, the state police rescued the trader from Basia village of Tundla, 30 km from Agra. They also arrested one of the abductors and seized a revolver.
Police said that there were three abductors, dressed in police uniform, waiting for the businessman on a bike near the roadside. As Mittal’s car approached them, they blocked the traffic on both sides of the road and rammed their bike into the car, thereby stopping it. Before Mittal and his driver could understand anything, the miscreants forced themselves into the vehicle, pushing the driver to the adjacent seat. The other two sat on the back seat with Mittal and directed the driver to proceed towards Agra. The whole incident took place in full view of bystanders.
The bystanders immediately informed the police. Senior police officials including SSP Ajay Kumar, SP (City) SK Bajpai, and CO Omkar Singh Yadav reached the spot with police force.
Subsequently, police sealed the entry and exit points of the city. The chief minister’s office was monitoring the situation. Special Task Force sleuths from Agra and additional force from other districts were also rushed to Firozabad.
Around four and half hours after the abduction, Mittal was rescued while two of the kidnappers managed to escape. The trader was later brought to Firozabad for questioning.
The incident comes just days after two jewellers were killed during a robbery in Mathura, triggering wide-spread protest by the business community. More than 7,000 jewellery shops downed shutters on Friday following the Mathura incident in which four police officials were suspended.