Indian abducted in South Africa released

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Nidhin Baby, a 27-year old Indian who was abducted in South Africa Dec 13, has been released, the office of the leader of opposition in Kerala Oommen Chandy said Sunday.

Chandys office said they received a call from South Africa, where a group of Keralites were actively negotiating for his release.

The good news is that not only has he been released but no ransom money, as demanded by his abductors, was paid out. By now, he has already spoken to his parents who are based in Wayanad, an official of Chandy’s office told IANS. He did not want to be named.

Nidhin was kidnapped Monday when he was returning to his home in Pretoria from Johannesburg.

He runs a restaurant in Pretoria, where he had been living for the past six years.

The kidnappers first called up Nidhin’s home in Wayanad hours after the kidnapping and asked his father for a ransom of Rs.10 million.

The demand was later reduced to Rs.2.5 million.

The state police traced the calls to South Africa, after which the Indian High Commission in Pretoria exerted pressure on the country’s government for Nidhin’s release.