MEERUT, Jan. 3 -- In a bizarre incident, a bakery worker allegedly took a woman hostage at knifepoint in a crowded market in Bijnor district, later telling police he committed the crime simply to experience life behind bars.

Ajit Kumar, 35, who works at a bakery in Noida, allegedly threatened a young woman at a winter clothes sale on Station Road around 7 pm on Wednesday. He reportedly demanded Rs.1 lakh and a motorcycle from the shop owner while holding the knife to the woman's throat.

Police said Ajit, a resident of Surajpur Mohammadpur Khala in Barabanki district, was travelling home after his uncle's death when he stopped at Najibabad. He allegedly bought a knife for Rs.80 before entering the crowded sale venue near the railway stat...