An abducted Nepali teenager has been rescued safely from India. The Banke District Police Office, in coordination with the Indian authorities, freed Muntaaj Nau, 18, of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolis-26 from Risiya Bazaar in Bahraich, India, on Thursday.

Muntaaj was abducted on April 8 from Rupaidiha as he went to the bordering Indian town taking a passenger on his auto rickshaw. His neighbour Munnan Nau had allegedly held him captive in a rented room at Risiya Bazaar. The suspect had demanded Rs2.5 million ransom from Muntaaj’s father Yakub Ali.

The Banke police carried out their ‘Operation Eagle’ successfully to rescue the boy. The team of 15 personnel was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhim Kiran Bogati.

“The victim’s family approached the police two days after abduction. We rescued him in coordination with the Indian police,” said Bogati. Rickshaw driver Muntaaj had reached Rupaidiha with a passenger when kidnapper Munnan’s wife Asmin Nau called him over to Aap Bayiya saying that she had goods to take to the railway station. When Muntaaj reached there, Aasmin was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was surrounded by two masked men who claimed to be CIDs. They blindfolded Muntaaj and took him away on a motorcycle.

“They held me hostage for four days. I lost hope as they threatened to kill me any time,’ said Muntaaj.

As planned by the police taskforce, Muntaaj’s family members had called the abductors to the Rupaidiha railway station for the money. Shiva Kumar Pathak, 34, was arrested as planned. Based on his statement, the victim was rescued from Risiya Bazaar later. Indian police arrested Pathak, Satar Khan and Asmin Nau for their involvement in the abduction. However, main accused Munnan is still at large.