Two youths, who were allegedly abducted from Shirdi, have been rescued and 12 people, including three women, arrested in connection with the matter, police said.
The group of alleged abductors was arrested on Wednesday. One pistol, four live cartridges, two four-wheelers and 13 mobiles were seized from them, Additional Superintendent of Police (rural) of Nashik Sunil Kadasane said.
Shahbaz Shaikh (22), son of an onion trader, and his friend Rahul Chavan (23), both residents of Yeola tehsil, were allegedly kidnapped on Sunday night from near Shirdi railway station.
The duo received a phone call from a woman on Sunday afternoon asking them to come to Shirdi. When Shahbaz and Rahul reached near Shirdi railway station, their car was stopped by a bunch of people, who kidnapped them at gunpoint and forcibly took them into another car, the ASP said.
Kadasane said the duo were then taken to a bungalow in Ahmednagar.
“Shahbaz was then made to call his brother Anjum to inform his family of their abduction and that Rs. 30 lakh be paid as ransom to the abductors in Pune,” the officer said.
After the ransom call, Shahabaz’s uncle, Hussain Shaikh, lodged a complaint with the local police on Monday.
Police swung into action and formed three special squads and a team was sent to Pune. Teams were also sent to Thane, Mumbra, Kalyan, Ahmednagar.
Anjum and Shaikh went with one of the squads along with Rs 30 lakh to Pune in bid to nab the abductors.
On specific tip offs, the teams kept a close watch on Salman Shakil Adamane (26), a resident of Shrirampur, and Ganesh Rasal from Yeola. Salman was traced in Shrirampur and held on Monday.
He told police about their plan and the whereabouts of his other accomplices. Subsequently, police traced the two youths with the help of sim card locator in a bungalow on Ahmednagar- Shirdi road, rescued them and arrested all the gang members in the wee hours yesterday. The arrested are identified as — Salman Admane (26), Ganesh Rasal (33), Kiran Kadu (21), Samir Baig (26), Rakesh Mahanor (22), Nadeem Pathan (25), Mangesh Pawar (28), Ganesh Shirsath (34), Swapnil Salvi (23), Pooja Jain (25), Rachana Salve (45), her daughter Raveena Salve (21).
The ASP said the accused belonged to Ahmednagar and Nashik districts.
They were produced before a local court yesterday which remanded them in police custody till January 24.
