Berhampur: A businessman, Sudhir Patra, was allegedly kidnapped from Defence Colony under Gopalpur police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Wednesday evening.
According to sources, the incident took place at around 8 pm when Patra was returning to his in-laws’ house in Dura village after playing volleyball. Eyewitnesses reported that the miscreants forcibly took him away, leaving his motorcycle behind, which police later recovered and seized as evidence for forensic examination.
Patra, who deals in real estate and plot sales primarily in the Balugaon, Nachuni, and Khallikote areas, is suspected to have been targeted due to business rivalry or a financial dispute. “He has been kidnapped for money. His family received a ransom call at 6 am today. They asked his wife to come to Aska,” a relative told a local news channel.
“It is for the first time that such an incident has occurred in Gopalpur. I request the police to bring Sudhir back as soon as possible,” Santosini Maharana, a ward member, told reporters.
A special team has been formed under the supervision of an Additional SP to trace the businessman and nab the accused. CCTV footage, mobile records, and leads from the ransom call are also being examined while probing business connections that could point to suspects.
