A Kolkata-based businessman was rescued within four hours of a police complaint being filed, after he was allegedly kidnapped and held hostage in a flat for ransom.
Timir Kanti Majumder was kidnapped near the Netaji Bhawan Metro Station on Wednesday and confined in a flat in the Jadavpur area, police said. Although the incident occurred two days earlier, his wife initially tried to negotiate directly with the kidnappers and refrained from alerting the authorities.
She finally approached the police on May 28, alleging that her husband had been kidnapped and a ransom of Rs 5 lakh had been demanded. Acting swiftly, a team from Bhawanipur police station, led by Inspector Bodhisattwa Pramanik and supported by the cyber cell and plainclothes officers, launched a probe.
Within hours, officers traced a digital payment of Rs 10,000 made via UPI to a mobile number linked to one of the suspects. The payment provided a crucial lead that helped cyber experts track the location to Jadavpur.
A team monitoring the Sukanta Bridge area moved in based on source information. One suspect was arrested within an hour. During interrogation, he revealed the whereabouts of the victim and identified his accomplices. The police raided the flat and rescued Majumder, arresting all five accused.
The arrested have been identified as Sajal Bose-owner of the flat where the businessman was held-Sudip Mazumder, Suman Bose, Samir Kumar Deb, and Sandipan alias Chima Das. They had used Wi-Fi and WhatsApp calls to communicate with Majumder’s wife, allegedly in an attempt to avoid location tracking.
Kolkata Police said the kidnapping stemmed from a financial dispute involving the accused. All five are currently in custody and are to be produced before the Alipore Court on Saturday.
IPS Priyobroto Roy, DCP (South Division), lauded the prompt action, stating, “Kolkata Police’s efficiency has once again been proven by the swift investigation and rescue within four hours.”
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.