Koraput: Thirteen people, including three women, were arrested on Thursday in connection with the recent abduction of a rice mill owner in Odisha’s Koraput district.
Rice mill owner, identified as A Ramesh Patra, war earlier rescued from R Maliguda under the jurisdiction of Sunabeda police station in the district.
As many as 13 persons, including three women and an employee of the rice mill, have been arrested for their involvement in the abduction. The main accused was identified as Jeet Mahuria.
All the accused have been forwarded to the court, Koraput SP Abhinav Sonkar told reporters.
The police have seized two cars, a bike, three pistols, 12 live bullets, two other weapons and Rs 24.85 lakh cash from the kidnappers. The mobile phones of all the accused have also been seized, he said.
Police said the kidnappers had demanded Rs 90 lakh ransom and later made a deal of Rs 70 lakh for the safe release of the mill owner.
Ramesh Patra, owner of SLVN Modern rice mill in Perahandi, was returning home in his car when miscreants intercepted him near Perahandi chhak at around 8.15 pm on last Friday. The kidnappers broke open the vehicle’s window and abducted him. After Patra did not return home, his family filed a complaint at Borigumma police station.
A special team investigated the case and raided several places before rescuing Patra on Sunday.
