NTPC Dadri's DGM, family held hostage by ex-employee

A deputy general manager (DGM) of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and his family were briefly held hostage at gunpoint by an ex-employee of the power distribution company in Dadri before the police arrested him, officials said Tuesday.

The incident took place on Monday night when the pistol-wielding accused, identified as Karmveer, barged into DGM Rajesh Kumar Rai's house in NTPC Township, they said.

"The accused fired gunshots in the air and barged into the house, threatening to kill them. Soon panic ensued in the township and some neighbours alerted the local Jarcha police station," a police spokesperson said.

He said Jarcha Station Officer Prabhat Dixit, along with some other policemen, reached the spot immediately and brought the situation under control by arresting Karmveer.

A local resident, Karmveer has been arrested under Indian Penal Code sections 452 (house trespass for assault or wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 307 (attempt to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement), among others, the police said.

He has also been booked under Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932, they said.

A country-made pistol and four bullets were recovered from the accused and he has been remanded in judicial custody, they added.

Karmveer's motive behind holding Rai and his family hostage is not yet known. Further probe is underway, the police said.