Balram Paswan claimed that Ankit, who was kidnapped April 12 in Bihar, was still alive, contradicting an earlier 'confession' that the six-year-old had been killed.
PATNA: Arrested abductor Balram Paswan on Thursday claimed that Ankit, who was kidnapped April 12 in Bihar, was still alive, contradicting an earlier 'confession' that the six-year-old had been killed.
Paswan, who used to work as a domestic help in Ankit's house, abducted the kindergarten student outside St. Paul's School in Gaighat locality here last month.
"Paswan has changed his statement by saying that Ankit was not killed by him and that the boy was with another abductor Sanjay Rajak," a police official said on Thursday.
Paswan reportedly told police that the child was safe with an accomplice - Rajak - and that he had made statements under pressure from Rajak for a ransom of Rs1.5 million.
"I know my son will return safely, it is the emotional words of a mother," said Ankit's mother Poonam Devi, who had been inconsolable since Wednesday after news broke that Ankit was killed.
Ankit's father Manoj Kumar Gope, a small-time businessman who also runs a beauty parlour, is also hopeful that his son is alive.
"I will accept the fact that my son is killed only when his body is recovered by police," Gope said. "I received a call from Balram who demanded Rs1.5 million for my son's return. If he had killed him, why would he demand money?"
A relative added: "Balram's changed statement is a miracle for all of us because we have been praying for Ankit's safe recovery."
But this is not the first time that Paswan has changed statements after his arrest in Muzaffarpur district Wednesday. In the last 24 hours he has changed statements four times.
After arrest, he was taken to Chapra where he had claimed that the boy was buried. But Ankit's body is yet to be discovered. Later Paswan was brought to Patna by police for interrogation.
State police chief AR Sinha said over telephone that it was not proper to conclude that Ankit was killed unless his body was recovered.
According to officials, there were over 2,000 cases of kidnapping in 2006 alone in Bihar. Earlier this year, the Patna High Court had directed the state government to trace the 144 children and 581 women who had gone missing since 2001.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}