Abducted on February 1, a joint investigative team of Zonal Police Office and Jhapa police had managed to free Bindal from the clutches of his abductors five days later from the house of one of the abductors, who is identified as Harka Kangdangwa of Dharampur-2. According to police, they had relied heavily on “latest technology” to find the whereabouts of Bindal and rescue him successfully. While eight of the total 17 perpetrators involved in the abduction have been arrested, search for the remaining nine abductors is underway, police said.

The abductors had demanded a ransom of Rs 300 million for the release of Bindal, who is orginally from Siliguri, India.

Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Rajendra Chauhan was injured after he was caught in a crossfire between the police and the abductors during the operation carried out to rescue Bindal. Police had fired retaliatory shots after the abductors opened fire at the police team. Police have also seized two pistols and 10 rounds of ammunitions from the arrested abductors.

The District Police Office, Morang had made the abductors who were arrested during the operation public by organising a press meet on Sunday.