KATHMANDU: A swoop of the police today netted a self-proclaimed complainant of an abduction drama, four other alleged hostage-takers and a broker going between them in the first incident of its kind in Kathmandu valley.

The Metropolitan Police Crime Division uncovered the mystery when Lila Bahadur BK aka Ram Kumar (28), hailing from Danda Kharka-3 of Dolakha, sought police help via telephone last week stating that he was caught in the grip of abductors. A special squad promptly acted on the tip-off and rounded up a Kaberi Hotel at Gongabu as informed by BK.

The reality was unearthed when the police got to know that BK was a fraud. BK lodged a word-of-mouth complaint that the alleged abductors had been demanding a ransom of Rs 400,000 for his unharmed release. “It was understood that BK had procured up to Rs 20,000 each from four persons, who he claimed were abductors, promising them lucrative jobs overseas,” explained SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, in-charge, MPCD.

Rabin Rawat (25) from Lakhanpur in Jhapa, Radhika Jabegu Limbu (26) and Yogesh Lingden Limbu (29) from Tandi- 2 in Morang as well as Kishor Adhikari (20) from Mirlung-6 in Tanahun had impounded BK instead of handing him over to the police.

He was forcibly taken away from New Baneshwor and confined in a hotel room to prod him on returning the money they had paid for Gulf visa.

Reports have it that BK, a Qatar returnee, had year-old history of fleecing gullible job-seekers in Gulf countries, promising them visas. “Complaints have poured on him from other alleged victims. We have recovered fake government document from him,” said SP Sher Bahadur KC. The arrested including Purna Lawati (31) from Tandi- 2 in Morang, who acted as a broker between them, have been handed over to Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka.

The police have filed a case against BK under Government Document and Fake Signature Seal Act while the four are undergoing trial under Some Public Offences Act. KC said the alleged abductors took him under control just to make him pay back their money. “It was not an abduction,” he clarified.