New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS): A seven-year-old child was rescued from his kidnappers - his maternal uncle and his four associates - police said Friday. The accused have been arrested.

Ravinder Kumar, 24, the victim's maternal uncle and mastermind, Sandeep, 22, Anil, 22, Babita, 22 and her sister, Anjali, 24, were arrested from Badarpur in south Delhi Thursday following police surveillance of their mobile phones.

"The child was rescued from a house in Badarpur where he was kept hostage," said Ravindra Yadav, Additional Commissioner of Police.

Kumar, Sandeep and Anil kidnapped the victim Nov 24 on the pretext of giving him sweets. He was abducted from a park outside his maternal grandfather's Sarai Kale Khan house in south Delhi.

The accused initially demanded Rs.14 lakh but later agreed to Rs.4 lakh after the family expressed its inability to pay such a large amount.

"For several months, Kumar was planning to kidnap a child and get handsome ransom to tide over his financial crisis," said Yadav.

Yadav said Kumar had decided to kill the child after getting the money.

According to the officer, Kumar was previously involved in petty offences like thefts and snatching but he was not arrested.