Four arrested over kidnap and demand of Rs 1.45 Lakh ransom in Odisha’s Keonjhar

Champua: Four miscreants were arrested today in connection with the alleged abduction of a youth and subsequent demand of ransom money at gunpoint on the night of November 5 at Taduabahal village of Rimuli panchayat under Champua police limits in Keonjhar district.

The abductee was identified as Girija Mahanta from Taduabahal village. The arrested were identified as Ashok Mahakud from Jamudapal village, Kishan Mahanta from Hundula village and Sana Mahanta and Bada Mahanta from Butisahi village of Mayurbhanj district.

According to a police source, the victim youth was beaten by the miscreants and later abducted at gunpoint and was demanded money online through PhonPe app for his release. The kidnap incident had taken place on the intervening night at a stone crusher unit beside SH-520 in the district.

Girija was sitting in his office room at the crusher unit site when the incident occurred. He was forcibly taken to Jamudapal village under Jhumpura police limits by the wrongdoers.

After being severely beaten, Girija was again taken to a secluded house in a forest near Sulagoda village under Ghagarabeda police limits of Mayurbhanj district on a motorcycle. The four had demanded Rs 1.45 lakh from the abductee. His family paid the demanded money in phases.

The miscreants had also made video calls to Girija’s family to pressurise them and compel them to pay.

Acting on an FIR lodged by Girija’s sister Diptimayee Mahanta, Champua police had tracked the mobile phones of the criminals leading to the arrests and rescue of the businessman.

Champua police seized a motorcycle used in the crime and several incriminating instruments from the possession of arrested persons. Police have registered a case [No-192/2023 under Sections 364, 364(A), 365 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27 of the Arms Act] in this connection and initiated a probe.

The arrested were forwarded to a local court later in the day.