LUCKNOW, Feb. 10 -- A man from Basti's Rudhauli confessed to staging his own kidnapping and escaping to Ayodhya for "mental peace" for two days even as his family had reported him missing to police, officials said.

Police said Sonu Chaudhary, 22, who was last seen by his family members on February 6 night, was reported missing by his brother Sanjay the next day.

As per the complaint, Sonu called his fiancee and claimed that five to six unidentified men had surrounded, assaulted and abducted him. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered under Section 140(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and a search operation was launched.

A special police team was formed under the supervision of the Rudhauli station in-charge, said Basti s...