Nepal Police on Saturday exchanged gunfire with kidnappers during an operation to free three kidnapped persons at Bhagwanpau in Swayambhu.

Police had gone to rescue three persons abducted from Boudha three days ago. All three persons—Bishal Tamang, Nangdung Tamang and Man Dorje Tamang—have been successfully rescued during the operation.

Three kidnappers have also been arrested. One Durga Tamang, 41, was arrested from the scene while two others, named Sachin Khawas and Bir Bahadur Tamang, were nabbed from Lainchaur. Another Padam Bahadur Tamang, aka Maaila, was arrested from Balaju.

Arrested Durga Tamang was shot on his knee and is admitted at Trauma Center for treatment. Police also recovered a sixer gun and its three bullets from injured Tamang.

(Photos: Milan Adhikari /post photo)

Police said relatives of the abducted persons had gone to pay the ransom amount of Rs 600,000 at Bhagwanpau in Swayambhu. The kidnappers opened fire when police dressed in civil clothing tried to arrest them.

According to Metropolitan Police Crime Division SSP Dinesh Amatya, the shootout started after abductors opened fire at police. SSP Amatya informed there were around six kidnapers at the scene. The relatives of the abducted persons had informed police only on Friday about the kidnapping. Two police personnel had followed the relatives when kidnapers asked them to bring the money. Kidnappers had shifted places from Cabahil to Manamaiju to Naya Bazaar to receive the ransom money.

Amatya said the arrested persons have past criminal records. "Their relationship fostered while they were in jail. Once they were free, they plotted the kidnapping," Amatya said of preliminary police investigation.

SSP Amatya said police has launched a manhunt to arrest the remaining kidnappers.