Panipat Men Arrested in Kolkata for Kidnapping Jammu Youths in Elaborate Job Scam
In a coordinated operation, five individuals from Panipat, Haryana, were apprehended by the Jammu and Kashmir Police with assistance from the Kolkata Police detective department and Pragati Maidan Police. The arrests occurred on Saturday afternoon at an east Kolkata hotel, where the accused were allegedly holding two Jammu residents hostage to extort a ransom of Rs 30 lakh.
Victims Lured with False Promises of Australian Employment
The victims, identified as Tusher Chib from Kunjwani and Mohinder Singh from Nanak Nagar in Jammu, were rescued unharmed. According to police and court sources, the duo was enticed with promises of lucrative job opportunities in Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. They were instructed to travel to Kolkata to complete what were described as "certain formalities" for these positions.
Upon arrival, however, the youths were forcibly confined to a hotel room located off Park Circus Connector near Topsia. The case was initially registered at the Gandhi Nagar Police Station in Jammu on March 10 under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating, wrongful confinement, and extortion.
Arrests and Investigation Details
The arrested individuals include Md Sameer Ansari (18), Prashant Ray (21), Praveen Kumar, Vanshu Mujal (21), and Sushil Ram (24). Sameer Ansari has been identified as the prime accused in this kidnapping plot. During the operation, the suspects were detained and brought to the Pragati Maidan police station for questioning.
A Kolkata Police source revealed, "We detained the accused and brought them to Pragati Maidan police station. During questioning, they broke down and were formally arrested from inside the police station around 1:45 pm."
Following their arrest, the accused were produced at the Alipore court on Saturday. The Jammu and Kashmir Police sought transit remand to transfer the individuals for further legal proceedings in Jammu. Alipore police court public prosecutor, Sourin Ghosal, informed the court about the severity of the crime.
Ghosal stated, "The accused meticulously planned and executed this crime. They tied up the victims and consistently played the television at high volume to mask any potential screams from the hostages." The Alipore court ultimately granted transit remand to the J&K Police.
Ongoing Probe and Additional Suspects
While five individuals are in custody, the investigation remains active. At least two other suspects, identified as Pushpinder Singh and Ajay Kumar, who are local agents based in Jammu, are under police scrutiny for their alleged involvement in the crime. Authorities are examining their possible links to the kidnapping scheme.
This incident highlights the dangers of fraudulent job offers and underscores the importance of vigilance when pursuing employment opportunities abroad. The successful rescue and arrests demonstrate effective inter-state police collaboration in tackling such criminal activities.
