The arrested were identified as Rachhpal Singh, a resident of Zira, Harpreet Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, and Joginder Singh, a resident of Manuke and the alleged mastermind of the abduction.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana (Rural), Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Singh’s wife Manjit Kaur had registered an FIR on January 7. In her complaint, Manjit had stated that on January 6, about six to seven persons had entered their house forcibly and locked the main gate. The gang then tied the hands of the four family members and forced them to consume intoxicants.

Thereafter, the kidnappers stole Rs 30,000 in cash, two gold bangles, three gold rings, one gold chain and a 12-bore rifle. They also took away Major Singh in their car.

Bhullar added that the kidnappers made repeated ransom calls for the release of Major Singh from his own cellphone and used to switch off the phone after making the call.

“To hunt down the abductors, special police parties were deputed under Superintendent of Police (Detective), Ludhiana (Rural), Pritam Singh. As the pressure from the police mounted, the kidnappers beat up Major Singh and threw him near Gurdwara Katana Sahib in Doraha. Some passers-by took the injured Major Singh to Sidhu Hospital for treatment. It was here that the police recorded his statement on January 10.”