Cuttack: In a swift operation, police rescued a trader two days after his abduction and arrested seven persons involved in the crime from Odisha’s Kendrapada district.
The trader, identified as Soumya Ranjan (31), was abducted from Bayalis Mouza area in Cuttack district on May 18 evening. The incident came to light when the victim’s family lodged a complaint at the local police station regarding his sudden disappearance.
Acting promptly on the complaint, police teams launched an investigation and followed various leads. After intensive efforts, they were able to trace the victim’s location and rescue him from a slum area in Kendrapada town.
A police official said that seven suspects allegedly involved in the abduction were also taken into custody during the operation.
While the abduction was suspected to have taken place due to business disputes or financial motives, the police are yet to confirm the exact reason behind the crime. Investigation is currently underway to uncover the conspiracy and ascertain is others were also involved in the abduction.
Commissioner of Police Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, S Dev Datta Singh said that Soumya Ranjan was earlier kidnapped in a similar fashion in Kendrapada a few years back.
“As Soumya Ranjan was into trading, we suspected that some people might have kidnapped him over financial matters. We launched an investigation after forming teams and rescued him. He was was kept confined at a house in Kendrapada and was chained. Seven accused were also arrested in this connection,” he said.
Police said the rescued trader is in a stable condition and has been reunited with his family. Medical examination was conducted to ensure his well-being.
