India, Aug. 19 -- AGRA An 18-hour standoff between the local administration in Kasganj and a retired head constable came to an end peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday, after the 67-year-old grandfather unlocked his residence following protracted negotiations.

The 'emotional hostage' crisis began at 10am on Tuesday when Baburam Rajput, a retired UP Police personnel, locked himself inside his house with his 13-year-old grandson, Digvijay Singh. The crisis was triggered by Rajput's fear that his son, Avinash Rajput, who works in Jaipur, had arrived to take the boy back with him.

Upon receiving an emergency Dial 112 alert from Avinash, a joint team comprising the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), a circle officer and police personnel ...