LUCKNOW: In first of its kind operation, UP Special Task Force used infrared sensors and night-vision cameras to recover a woman lawyer who had been kidnapped for a ransom of Rs 1 crore from the city’s outskirts on June 6.
A cop even disguised himself as a labourer to keep an eye on the suspected building.
Lucknow police had assisted in ground surveillance.
The victim, Preeti Shukla, was abducted while on an evening stroll on Monday outside her apartment in Sushant Golf City, where she stays with her husband Anurag, also a lawyer, and their 15-year-old son.
The captor was identified as Santosh Chaubey.
Nine of his accomplices are still at large.
ADG STF Amitabh Yash said that the woman was recovered from Harvanshgarhi in Mohanlalganj from a two-storey building.
“Chaubey hails from Ghazipur and was preparing for the examination of police sub-inspector.
So far, his motive appears to be money only,” said Yash.
Chaubey’s interrogation is under way while a hunt for the others is on.
Around 7.20pm on Sunday, 47-year-old Preeti was walking when a group of five men pulled her into a car, gagged her and pushed her into a sack.
They took her to a rented house in Mohanlalganj where she was kept, said deputy SP STF Deepak Singh.
In the meantime, Anurag kept looking for her.
A little later, someone called him from Preeti’s number, saying that she was safe but Rs 1 crore would have to be given at a stipulated place for her release.
Anurag then informed police and a friend of his got in touch with STF.
“On the directions of ADG STF, we started a probe.
We first engaged the captors to lower payment demand.
Simultaneously, we traced them through surveillance.
The captors often called at odd hours and sent a video in which Preeti was seen with her eyes covered saying she was safe,” added Singh.
“Posing as workers of the electricity department, we conducted a recce of the area and zeroed in on the building where the woman was held.
A cop posed as a labourer and kept an eye.
In the meantime, Anurag was asked to make a payment of Rs 25 lakh.
We added trackers in the cash bag to record a video of the accused and give us a GPS location,” said Singh.
Police and STF then placed cops atop three buildings.
Using night-vision cameras, they checked for activity in surrounding buildings.
Infrared sensors were used to trace the location of the woman who was spotted through a window lying on a cot with her hands and legs tied.
The accused said that the gang had targeted the family because he was aware they were planning to buy a house and were in possession of a large amount of cash.