Muzaffarpur: A poultry feed trader was allegedly abducted from the Mithanpura area of Muzaffarpur and taken to Uttar Pradesh, where he was held captive in a dilapidated building and beaten on camera as his family was asked to pay Rs 10 lakh in ransom.
The trader, identified as Chandan Kumar, was rescued safely within eight hours in a joint operation by the Muzaffarpur police and Uttar Pradesh Police, officials said. Four alleged kidnappers have been arrested in connection with the case.
City SP Mohammad Mohibullah Ansari said on Thursday that police also seized a vehicle allegedly used in the crime and four mobile phones.
Trader abducted from Muzaffarpur, taken to UP
According to police, Chandan Kumar was allegedly abducted by men travelling in a car from Miskat under the Mithanpura police station area. The kidnappers took him to the HaldI police station area of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh and allegedly confined him in a deserted, dilapidated building.
The accused later made a video call to Chandan’s family and allegedly showed him being assaulted. They demanded Rs 10 lakh for his release and threatened to kill him if the ransom was not paid.
Chandan’s wife, Shautya Devi alias Shweta Kumari, lodged a complaint with the Mithanpura police on August 19.
She told police that she received a ransom call at around 6.02 pm on August 18. The caller allegedly demanded Rs 10 lakh and threatened to kill her husband if the money was not arranged. During a subsequent video call, the kidnappers allegedly showed Chandan being beaten. She recorded the video on another mobile phone, which was later provided to the police.
Special team tracks kidnappers to Ballia
Following the complaint, Muzaffarpur SSP Kantesh Kumar Mishra formed a special team to investigate the case and ensure the trader’s safe recovery.
The team, comprising officials from the district intelligence unit and Mithanpura police station, collected information through technical and human intelligence and conducted raids at suspected locations.
Police eventually traced the kidnappers to the HaldI police station area of Ballia district and, with assistance from the Uttar Pradesh Police, rescued Chandan within eight hours, officials said.
Four arrested
The arrested suspects have been identified as Suraj Kumar alias Suraj Kumar Singh alias Surajbhan Singh of Sarai in Vaishali district, Roshan Kumar of Dighwara in Saran district, Gaurav Singh of Panki in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Abhishek Kumar of Bangra in Samastipur district.
Police seized the vehicle allegedly used in the kidnapping and four mobile phones from the location.
The accused are being questioned to determine the alleged kidnapping conspiracy and identify other people who may have been involved. Police are also checking their previous criminal records with the concerned police stations.
Trader originally from Kurhani
Chandan Kumar is originally from Kishunpur in Kurhani and currently lives in a rented house in Raju Sah Lane with his wife and three children.
According to his wife’s complaint, Chandan had dropped her and their child at Kishunpur on Sunday before returning to their rented house in Raju Sah Lane.
On August 18, she called him at around 4 pm but found his mobile phone switched off. At around 6 pm, she received the ransom call demanding Rs 10 lakh. She approached the police the following day, after which the investigation was launched.
