New Delhi, Dec 17 : Seven people have been arrested on charges of abducting a Nepali man in a bizarre case involving a former Indian soldier who recruited people to be sent to Iraq, police said Thursday.

Former soldier Mohammad Aslam Khan, 39, Sanjeev Kumar, 30, Jabar Mal Simar, 22, Kamaljeet Singh, 33, Sultan Singh, 25, Kedar Nath, 30, and Desh Raj, 31, were arrested Wednesday from Himachal Pradesh.

Their victim, Harichand Rawal, who belonged to Tilak Nagar in west Delhi and was kidnapped Dec 8, was also rescued from the hill state.

Khan told the police that on the advice of K. C. Gopal, a manpower supplier, he took Rs. 150,000 from nine relatives and friends who sought jobs in Iraq.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Sharad Aggarwal, Gopal then began avoiding Khan.

Khan felt cheated and people started pressuring him for their money. Khan somehow managed to renew contact with Gopal, who introduced him to the victim before going out of sight again.

Police said Khan become friendly with Rawal and kidnapped him thinking that he was the only gateway to reach Gopal. Khan and his accomplices then tortured him.

The accused demanded a ransom of Rs. 500,000 for his safe release. That was when the police swooped on the gang, Aggarwal said.(IANS)