SHILLONG, Feb 12: In a drug deal gone bad, a drug peddler ended up being kidnapped after delivery of drugs in East Jaintia Hills district on Sunday.

He was rescued and later arrested along with 6 others.

District police chief Jagpal Singh Dhanao said information was received at around 3 pm that a person by the name of Masoom Choudhury has been kidnapped by a group of 5-6 miscreants, who were travelling in a local taxi (ML-11-7172).

Immediately, the entire district police force were kept on high alert to trace the victim.

At around 4:30 pm, a team from Khliehriat Police Station were able to rescue the victim and his kidnappers were detained and brought to Khliehriat Police Station.

During preliminary interrogation, it was revealed that the kidnapped person is in fact a drug peddler who had delivered one soap box of heroin to the accused persons, who then kidnapped him after taking the delivery of drugs.

The kidnappers had also demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs for his release, Singh said.

Further, on the leading of the accused persons, the soap box was recovered from the local taxi and the contraband was seized in the presence of independent witnesses.

The net weight of the contraband (heroin) was found to be 15 gms.

The local taxi and 6 mobile phones were also seized.

The accused persons have been identified as Damewanhi Rymbai (28), Deibor Sutnga (31), Hilari Dkhar (24), Banjop Sukhlain (25), Wanmi Muksor (30), Deimon Shadap (29) and Masoom Choudhary of Katigorah Noonnagar, Assam.

Further, the SP informed that a case is being registered at Khliehriat PS and investigation is on to trace the backward linkages with the seized contraband.