California: A 48-year-old man, a suspect in the kidnapping of a four-member Sikh family, including an eight-month-old girl, in the US state of California has been taken into custody and his condition is critical. Officials said the victims were still missing. The family, originally from Harsipind in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, was abducted in Marsad County on Monday.
The family members have been identified as 8-month-old Aruhi Dhari, her mother Jasleen Kaur (27), father Jasdeep Singh (36) and uncle Amandeep Singh (39).
The family’s vehicle was found in a decomposed state late on Monday night, based on which law enforcement officials determined that the four had been abducted. According to a news release, intelligence officials received information on Tuesday morning that the victim’s bank card had been used at an ATM in Merced County.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “Investigators obtained a photo of the person making the bank transaction, who looks similar to the person seen in the picture found at the scene of the kidnapping.”
Before the arrival of law enforcement agencies, the suspect named Jesus Manuel Salgado “tried to take his own life” and is currently “in serious custody and undergoing treatment.” Jasdeep and Amandeep’s father Dr. Randhir Singh and mother Kirpal Kaur are in shock after this incident of abduction.
Randhir is retired from the health department and Kripal from the education department. Randhir returned to India from the US on September 29.