Kidnapped Indian national rescued

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – An Indian national, whose kidnappers had demanded P1million for his release, was rescued in Isabela’s Ramon town the other day, or three days after he was snatched.

Reports, however, said the kidnappers of 25-year-old Madan Lan Singh, who is based in Santiago City, Isabela, were able to escape during the entrapment and almost two-hour police chase. 

“The victim is now in the custody of his relatives in Solano town (here), from where his wife also (hails) from,” said Senior Superintendent Severino Abad, Santiago City police chief.

Singh was seized near his residence in broad daylight last Feb. 27 with his kidnappers reportedly demanding P1 million in exchange for his release.

Reports said witnesses saw the victim being dragged to a waiting pickup truck.

Hours later, the kidnappers contacted Singh’s family, demanding P1-million ransom, but eventually agreed to lower it to P750,000.

Singh’s family and police then set up an entrapment to rescue him and eventually arrest his kidnappers.

Abad formed a task force to rescue Singh, with one of his men posing as an Indian national to drop off the ransom, as agreed upon, at Villa Estelita in Isabela’s Cordon town.

Minutes later, a man on board a motorcycle picked up the bag containing the supposed ransom and sped away toward Ramon town. Policemen then followed the man, leading to a chase where the suspect was later joined by a Mitsubishi L-200 van believed carrying Singh and two other motorcycles.

The chase ended in Ramon town’s San Antonio village near the Magat Dam where the kidnappers were forced to abandon the van carrying Singh and escaped with the money – which was merely paper cutouts.

Singh, Abad said, bore injuries on his left shoulder and foot when authorities finally retrieved him after the nearly two-hour chase. 

Abad said Singh was turned over to the city’s Indian temple before he was brought to Solano town here where his family resides.

“We have leads as to who were behind the kidnapping. But we cannot yet divulge their identities, pending our ongoing operation,” he said. – With Raymund Catindig