Shimla, Aug. 11 -- Using a California-US-based VPN number to make threatening internet calls, an engineering graduate and former Bishop Cotton School (BCS) student abducted three class six boys during a Sunday outing -- but was tracked down and caught within hours by Shimla Police.

Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi said the suspect used his knowledge of the school's outing system, gained as an "old boy," to lure the children, calling the case "a matter where three children's lives were at stake".

Gandhi told reporters in Shimla and later, speaking to ANI, that the accused, Sumit Sood of Kokunala area of Kotkhai, had studied up to Class 8 at BCS before pursuing engineering out of state.

"He lured the boys by introducing himself as...