Ghaziabad, June 1: A software engineer kidnapped from here in Uttar Pradesh over a week back was rescued on Friday in a joint operation by the state police and its Special Task Force (STF), an officer said.

Rajeev Kumar was abducted on May 23 from Raj Nagar extension. The HCL techie's kidnappers demanded a ransom and had kept him in captivity for eight days, an STF officer said.

STF Inspector General Amitabh Yash said the engineer was released after a gun battle with the kidnappers near the Brave Heights Apartment. 

The kidnapper gang busted by the police consisted of young criminals who would abduct upper middleclass professionals after doing a recce of their movements, an officer said.

ADG (law and Order) Anand Kumar told IANS that the kidnappers "were using WhatsApp" to keep in contact. 

Two kidnappers, one constable of the Ghaziabad Police and one of the STF officers sustained bullet injuries during the gunfight. 

The abducted engineer was rescued from a house in Prahlad Garhi village under Indirapuram police station.

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Dharamsala (PTI): Half-centuries from skipper Axar Patel and David Miller powered Delhi Capitals to a thrilling three-wicket win over Punjab Kings and kept their slim playoff hopes alive in the Indian Premier League here on Monday.

Sent in to bat, Priyansh Arya (56 off 33) and Prabhsimran Singh (18) shared 78 runs off 41 balls for the opening wicket for PBKS.

After their departure, Shreyas Iyer (59 not out off 36 balls) and Cooper Connolly (38 off 27) took responsibility to carry the innings forward as PBKS posted 210 for five.

In reply, DC slipped to 74 for four but Axar (56) and Miller (51) resurrected the chase, while Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari completed the task, scoring 216 for seven in 19 overs.

Mitchell Starc (2/57) and Madhav (2/40) picked up two wickets each for DC.

For PBKS, Arshdeep Singh (2/21), Ben Dwarshuis (1/51) and Marcus Stoinis (1/44) were among the wicket-takers.

Brief Scores:

Punjab Kings: 210 for 5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 59 not out, Priyansh Arya 56; Madhav Tiawai 2/40).

Delhi Capitals: 219 for 7 in 19 overs (Axar Patel 56, David Miller 51; Arshdeep Singh 2/21)