Punjab Police Rescue Kidnapped 7-Year-Old in 24 Hours; Key Suspect Killed in Encounter

A swift operation involving three police districts thwarted a ₹1-crore ransom plan, with two accomplices arrested and the child safely reunited with his family.

Bhawkirat Singh, a 7-year-old boy, was abducted from his Ludhiana village on March 12 while playing outside his home, with kidnappers demanding a ₹1-crore ransom.
Punjab Police tracked the suspects to Mandour village in Patiala, where the main accused, Jaspreet Singh, was killed in a gunfight after opening fire on officers.
The child was found unharmed in the suspects' rented Toyota Fortuner SUV during the operation, which also left three police officers injured.
Two accomplices, Harpreet Singh and Ravi Bhinder, were arrested, and police recovered a .32 bore pistol, cartridges, and the motorcycle used in the crime.
Punjab’s Director General of Police announced ₹10 lakh in rewards and promotions for the police team, with state leaders lauding the operation as a warning to criminals.