Saturday, February 5 2005 09:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Biharsharif: Another abducted student of the DAV public school was released by his kidnappers, who held him captive for a fortnight, in Bihar's Nalanda district, a senior police official said today (Feb 5, 2005).

Nalanda superintendent of police A K Ambedkar told reporters that Ravikant was let off by his captors at Biawan village under Nagarnausa police station in the district last night from where he boarded a bus this morning and returned to his Biharsharif residence safe.

Ambedkar said acting on an information provided by seven persons including a constable who were taken into custody for interrogation yesterday in connection with the kidnapping, a police team went to Biawan village last night and mounted pressure on the abductors who released Ravikant at an isolated place.

Ravikant's father admitted that the abductors had demanded Rs 25 lakh as ransom but police said no money was paid for the boy's release.

Ravikant was kidnapped from near his residence while going to board a school bus on January 24.

Earlier, two students Kishlay Komal, of DPS school in Patna, and Deepak Kumar, of DAV Public School in Bhagalpur, were released by their kidnappers on February 2.

Abduction of the schoolchildren had triggered widespread protests by students and their guardians in the State capital who had launched a relay fast, offered mass prayer and demonstrated outside Raj Bhawan demanding their safe release.