Kidnappers Release Pratibha Anand; Criminals Still at Large

Patna: Aug. 9, 2008

Two days after her abduction, the criminals in Patna on Saturday, released Pratibha Anand, an MBA student who was kidnapped by unidentified criminals on Thursday afternoon as she returned to her home after paying her tuition fee at the Zakir Hussain Institute.

In a statement before the Patna police, 23-year old Pratibha said she was forced into a Maruti van by 5 men who took her to an unidentified location and slapped her several times when she refused to cooperate with them.

On Saturday, under building pressure from the law-enforcement officials, the kidnappers dropped her on the same spot from where she was abducted, the police said.

While the family is relieved to have Pratibha back home in safe condition, the criminals are continuing to call her father Amarendra Kumar Singh, a postal employee, demanding Rs, 10 lakh for the safety of his family members.

Based on Pratibha's statements and the phone records, officials are trying to determine the identities of her abductors, City Superintendent of Police (SP) Anwar Hussain said.