Bizman abducted near Kasba hotel, rescued from Malda
Times of India | 24 September 2024
Kolkata: A gang of seven men abducted a 50-year-old Kolkata-based businessman and took him all the way to Malda on Sunday morning before a joint team from Kolkata Police and Malda Police rescued him later at night. Seven persons – all from Malda – have been arrested.
The accused had initially demanded Rs 1 crore but scaled it down to Rs 20 lakh. Cops stated that a business rivalry, where the victim apparently was refusing to pay up for something, led to the abduction.
According to additional CP (I) Murlidhar Sharma, it was around 8 am that Anirban Hazra, a resident of Tower- 2 of a complex under Garfa police station, left home on Sunday. He informed his family that he had to visit a factory site near Baranagar. “The victim reportedly walked till Ruby crossing where he was scheduled to hold a meeting at a hotel. It was here that he was kidnapped from and whisked away in a vehicle having registration number WB06A4620,” said DC (SSD) Bidisha Kalita.
According to police, CCTV footage showed Hazra had boarded the vehicle on his own. He had even called home to inform that he was on his way to the site. This was around 9.30 am. Around 2.39 pm, his family received a call from his mobile. The kidnappers asked for Rs 1 crore and finally settled for Rs 20 lakh. They also threatened his wife that her husband would be killed if she refused to pay the ransom. His wife immediately informed police and lodged a complaint.
“Accordingly, a team of officers from the anti-rowdy section and the Garfa PS left Kolkata. Primary inquiry revealed that he was abducted over a business rivalry. Finally, on Monday morning, Hazra was rescued from Malda and seven persons were arrested. They have been identified as Abdus Sayem (38), Masum Ansari (28), Rocky Ansari (23), Golam Martuz(26), Jahangir Sk (27), Rajikul Ansari(32) — the owner of the vehicle used for abduction — and Rahamat Sk (25). The vehicle has also been seized,” said DC Kalita.
Sources in the detective department said they analyzed the ransom call details and found out that Hazra was at Muthabari village in Malda. “Combined raids were conducted to rescue the victim,” said Sharma.