3 yrs on, no trace of abducted trader

LUCKNOW: Over three years have passed by. Ransom has been paid to the abductors, an accused has been killed in an encounter and 10 others have been held. But till date, neither the hostage nor the ransom paid to miscreants has been recovered.
Loknath Singh abduction case in Gomtinagar police station area dated January 11, 2007, continues to haunt Lucknow police, apart from being a painful memory for the family of victim -- since that fateful day, Loknath Singh's son, Santosh, and his mother, Urmila, have been running from pillar to post in hope of getting justice.
Loknath Singh, a property dealer and a resident of Vishal Khand went missing on January 11, 2007, from Gomtinagar police station area. A case of missing person was lodged by his nephew, Sanjay Singh. On January 16 morning, victim's family members received a letter written by Loknath Singh asking them to arrange for Rs 25 lakh, said Santosh. In the letter, he also directed the family members about from whom to get the money. The letter also stated that a call would be made to them.
On the same day, a call was received on the landline by the family members and they were told to arrange the money in exchange of the safe return of Loknath. Santosh claimed that the then circle officer, Gomtinagar, Vinay Chandra, sub-inspector Sumit Singh and others knew about these developments. On March 5 same year, the missing case was changed into kidnapping and conspiracy. Two persons -- Shareeq Ahmed, Jagdish and others were named in the FIR. However, during further investigation they were not found to be involved and were given a clean chit.
Earlier, Santosh alleged that it was on the directive of the CO and other police officials that he, along with his brother-in-law, Abhinav, went to Jalapur tri-section in Jaunpur to pay the ransom amount of Rs 25 lakh. He was in regular touch with the police official, Santosh claimed.
The allegation was denied by Chandra at that time. Later, Santosh had substantiated his allegation through the call detail record, which showed frequent calls being made between his mobile number and the CUG number of the CO.
Subsequently, the police got some clues of kidnappers and arrested a few persons including a woman. In all, 10 persons were rounded up -- either arrested or surrendered in the court.
One of the kidnapping accused, Nishar Ahmed, a resident of Ghazipur, was killed in an encounter on March 2. Besides, Dhurandhar, a resident of Jaunpur, surrendered before the court. The police also took Dhurandhar on remand and recovered a four-wheeler and a cellphone.
Before that on November 30, 2007, a charge-sheet was filed in the case followed by another charge-sheet on December 11, 2008.
According to the police, only one accused Chandrashekhar alias Pehelwan, a resident of Jaunpur is at large. Pehelwan is carrying a reward of Rs 5,000 on his head.
With almost all the accused but one behind bars, hope for money and recovery of Loknath Singh looks dim, said a police official and hinted towards some foul play in the case.
DIG Rajeev Krishna said though most of the accused have been arrested, investigation to trace the ransom amount, the absconding accused and the missing property dealer or anything related to him, is still on. He said now the case has been handed over to SP (crime).