Sasaram, Aug 30: After more than a month's captivity, a kidnapped Punjab National Bank manager returned home today on his own, police said. Superintendent of Police, Rohtas Bachhu Singh Meena claimed R D Sharma was released under heavy police pressure. Sharma was kidnapped by unidentified armed criminals while on way to the bank from his residence in Dehri-on-Sone on July 25. He said his captors had taken him to Benares. Seven persons were arrested in connection with the abduction of Sharma and after their thorough interrogation, the police achieved some vital information. Police were conducting intensive raids at their different hideouts, which frightened the criminals leading to the officer's release, Meena claimed. A joint team of the district police and special task force (STF) were engaged to rescue Sharma, who is branch manager of the PNB at Etmaha in Rohtas district.
Sharma was abducted along with three other bank staff who were later released at Babhni village.
The kidnapping of the PNB manager, a day after the abduction of Siddhant Parmar, the eight-year-old son of State Bank of India officer and nephew of Sugarcane Minister Raghvendra Pratap Singh, had triggered widespread protest in Rohtas and Patna districts.

All private and commercial banks had observed a day-long strike in the two districts on July 28 in protest against Siddhant and Sharma's kidnapping. The bank employees had also planned a state-wide strike on August 5 which was postponed following a request from an association of bank management.

Bureau Report