Rs 15 L demand for release of youths

FARIDABAD: Three Faridabad youths have been held captive by ‘Naxalites’ who are demanding Rs 15 lakh for their safe release.
A man accused of being involved in fake currency deals has been charged with handing them over to ‘Naxalites’. According to the police, the three — Sushil (22), Bhola (24) and Naveen (22) — in a desperate bid to make fast bucks got in touch with Pyarelal and demanded fake notes at half the value of real money.However, Pyarelal, evading arrest, handed them over to ‘Naxalites’, the police added.
Sushil’s father Sahibram, who runs a workshop in Sector 25, was summoned to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh with Rs 15 lakh for the safe release of his son and his friends.
The ‘Naxalites’ had threatened that if he failed to turn up, his son’s body parts would be sold to realise the money. Sahibram informed the police which accompanied him to Gorakhpur but the ‘Naxalites’ smelt the rat and told Sahibram to come to Bettiah in Bihar. However, Sahibram failed to contact them in Bettiah and returned to Faridabad.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Alok Mittal said: ‘‘The youths had displayed keen desire to make quick money and their greed has landed them into the hands of ‘Naxalites’.’’
Police said an auto driver, Harkesh Kumar (32), has also fallen into the hands of ‘Naxalites’ who have demanded Rs 30 lakh as ransom money. His brother Dinesh Kumar informed the police that Harkesh also knew Pyarelal. On April 29, Harkesh went to see Pyarelal but never returned.
toireporter@timesgroup.com