BIDUR: As many as four persons were reportedly arrested in connection to abduction and extortion in Nuwakot district.

Arjun Prasad Dahal of Mahadevkharka of Duipipal-7 was abducted on Monday morning from Chipen area while he was transporting timber on a minitruck for his under-construction house.

Santa Bahadur Tamang and Krishna Shrestha of Duipipal, Wang Lama and Surya Bahadur Syatang of Tistung, all the residents of Makawanpur district have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping, Nuwakot Police Chief Dev Bahadur Bohara said. The abductors had demanded a ransom of Rs 1.5 million for Dahal's release.

According to police, Dahal was approached by the four persons at Chipen area and identified themselves as officials sent by the Super Intendent of Police at National Investigation Department before they took him hostage and demanded Rs 1.5 million.

"The abductors demanded Rs 1.5 million and when Dahal was being forcibly taken to an unknown place after failing to cough up the amount, the locals intervened and freed him," Bohara shared. "We have registered a case of abduction and physical captivity at the District Court Nuwakot against the four in accusation of attempted abduction," he added.

Bohara revealed further that the timber Dahal was supplying was illegal and expressed suspicion that the dispute between two smugglers may have triggered the incident.