4 arrested for kidnapping rice mill owner in Mayurbhanj

Bhubaneswar: Police on Saturday arrested four persons for allegedly kidnapping a businessman along the road between Baripada and Balasore. The accused had taken Rs 40 lakh ransom from his family seven days after his release in Mayurbhanj district’s Baripada, police said.Police declined to divulge the name of the victim. The businessman lodged a police complaint on Friday, though he was kidnapped on Oct 23 morning and was released by the abductors in the evening. Police have so far been able to recover over Rs 8 lakh out of the Rs 40 lakh paid to the kidnappers, officers said.The accused have been identified as Arman Khan, 34, Rajesh Barik, 30, Bhabesh Chandra Behera, 19, and Balaram Rout, 20, all residents of Balasore.

Police have seized Rs 8,64,700 in cash, two cars, four swords and seven mobile phones.“A complaint was lodged by the victim seven days after he was released because he was in fear and apprehended further harm. We are raiding several places where the kidnappers are likely to park the ransom money. Further investigation is going on to trace others connected to the crime,” said SP (Mayurbhanj) Varun Guntupalli.Police said the kidnappers intercepted the businessman, owner of a rice mill, at Padmanavpur toll gate at 4:30 pm while he was travelling from Baripada to Balasore.

He was stopped by the abductors on a motorcycle and a car.“The miscreants were armed with weapons. They dragged the businessman from his vehicle, assaulted him, put him in their car and went towards Rupsa. They demanded a ransom of Rs 80 lakh, threatening to kill him if the money was not paid. In a bid to save his life, the businessman managed to contact his manager and arrange for Rs 40 lakh, which led to his release,” said the SP.Police said the accused had detailed knowledge of the victim’s business and financial status. “The accused are believed to be part of a larger group, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the outstanding ransom amount,” the SP added.