22-km police chase ends with jilted lover drinking poison after boy's abduction

New Delhi: A man allegedly abducted the 11-year-old brother of a girl he wanted to marry and threatened to kill the child if she refused to go with him, police said. The accused later consumed poison when police were closing in on him during a 22-kilometre chase in Delhi and neighbouring Ghaziabad.

The accused, identified as Dharam Pal, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj district, was subsequently taken to BJRM Hospital, where he remains admitted in police custody, officials said.

According to police, the boy had left his home for school on August 31 but failed to return. Following a complaint from his family, the Jahangir Puri police station registered an FIR over his disappearance.

Investigators used technical surveillance and field inquiries to trace the movements of the accused and the child. Their investigation eventually led police to Loni in Ghaziabad.

Police said Pal was travelling by bus while attempting to flee. A police team pursued him from Loni towards Delhi, covering around 22 kilometres before intercepting him near Azadpur Flyover on Friday.

Police said Pal wanted to marry the boy’s sister and live with her, but she was unwilling to continue any relationship with him.

Investigators allege that Pal kidnapped her younger brother in an attempt to pressure the family into sending the girl to him.

After the alleged abduction, Pal reportedly contacted the boy’s mother using an unknown number. He identified himself and threatened to kill the child if his demand was not met.

The child was rescued near Azadpur Flyover on Friday after police tracked the accused and pursued him from Ghaziabad into Delhi.

Officials said the police were about to apprehend Pal when he consumed poison. He was immediately shifted to BJRM Hospital for treatment, where he remains in custody.