BIRGUNJ: Police have apprehended four persons for their alleged involvement in extortion and abduction of a local businessman, along with weapons and cash from Birgunj on Thursday night.

The suspects have been identified as Imran Mansur (19), Roshan Paudel (22) and Dinanath Patel (20) of Kalaiya Municipality in Bara district and Jaya Prakash Patel of Ramgadawa of Birgunj Sub-Metropolitan City-27 in Parsa.

Earlier on Thursday, the gang allegedly extorted Rs 100,000 from a businessman by pointing a pistol at a point-blank range.

They later held the businessman hostage demanding a ransom of Rs 900,000. The victim was released only after he promised to pay the money within a week.

Meanwhile, SP Raju Babu Shrestha said police acted promptly after they were tipped-off about the incident.

He further said a special police team was mobilised by blocking the border which helped them to arrest the suspects.

The alleged kidnappers were arrested along with a home-made pistol, four rounds of bullets, three sets of mobile phones, two SIM cards and Rs 100,000.

SP Shrestha added the abductors would be charged under the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1962.