The UP couple who kidnapped 23 children over a birthday party die — leaving their own daughter orphaned

• The kidnapping began around 3 pm on January 31 when Batham invited children to his daughter’s birthday party.
  
• Villagers got furious after they failed to rescue kidnapped children from the house of Subhash Batham.They tried to break the door.
  
• He was killed in retaliatory firing by the police. The villagers also beat up his wife Ruby who died an hour later at the community health centre.
  
  

The UP man who kidnapped 23 children on the pretext of a birthday party of their one-year baby girl - were shot dead by the police. The main accused is the father, Subhash Batham, who is known to be mentally unstable and was even convicted for murder.

Batam was sentenced to a life term for the murder of his uncle in 2005. He was granted bail after he spent 10 years in prison. He was imprisoned yet again over charges of theft.

The kidnapping however turned the residents of Karsia village as they were kept hostage for over 11 hours. In fact, it was the villagers who helped break the door which led to Batham opening fire on the police. The villagers also beat up his wife Ruby who died an hour later at the community health centre.

All the children however were safely rescued.

The 11-hour hostage drama

The kidnapping began around 3 pm on January 31 when Batham invited children to his daughter’s birthday party. At 7 pm, parents got anxious when Batham refused to open the door and warned that their children won’t be released.

"The man called the children for a birthday party and held them hostage in the basement of the house. He fired six shots from inside the building." said Inspector General of Police, Kanpur Range, Mohit Agarwal.

The captor had some demands from the local legislator Narendra Singh but refused to say it later. He also threw out a letter addressed to the District Magistrate where he complained about being denied a toilet.

Later, he has not placed any demand in return for the release of the children but said that the villagers would have to pay the price of falsely implicating him in a murder case. Sources said Batham’s house was weird as there were no windows. He kept the children in a basement where he stored ammunition like bombs. The police used drone cameras to monitor the rescue operation.

(With agency inputs)

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