Bhagalpur, June 20: Seventeen fishermen, who were kidnapped by armed criminals while fishing in the Ganga near Vinoba village of Naugachia police district last evening were rescued by the police in the wee hours today. Police said that armed criminals of notorious Rajkumar Mandal-Lakhan Mandal gang abducted 17 fishermen at gun-point from the village after they refused to pay extortion money.

After a night-long joint operation by police of Bhagalpur and neighbouring Naugachia district, the kidnapped fishermen were rescued from a place in Dusala Diara (riverine belt) under Sabor police station.
While one criminal was arrested from the spot, the rest managed to escape, police added.

The abducted fishermen were residents of Kagzi Tola area under Khalgoan Police Station of Bhagalpur district.

Bureau Report