Berhampur: Two people were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping a 42-year-old man and demanding a ransom of Rs 2.40 lakh. The incident highlights a dispute over a loan repayment that escalated into a crime.
Police seized three mobile phones and screenshots of bank transactions from the accused, Banoj Kumar Tarai (35) and Snehalata Das (26), residents of Sundarapada area in Bhubaneswar.
The victim, who was kidnapped from Andhapasara Road here and confined in a hotel in Gopalpur, managed to escape early Wednesday morning. He subsequently lodged a complaint at Goshaninuagaon police station in Berhampur.
According to police, the complainant, along with three friends, had come to Berhampur to purchase a car. On Tuesday, around 5:30 pm, while he was near a car washing centre on Andhapasara Road, a group of individuals traveling in a car and on two bikes attacked him. The accused also allegedly attempted to strangle him.
Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Saravana Vivek M stated that during the investigation, it was revealed that the victim had taken a loan of Rs 3 lakh from the accused. Although he returned the principal amount, the accused demanded an additional Rs 2 lakh as interest. To recover this money, they kidnapped the victim.
The police are continuing their investigation into the matter. The arrested individuals have been charged with kidnapping and extortion.
