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3 Indians Kidnapped in Pattaya (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: A cheap holiday in Thailand turned into a living nightmare for three Indians who became victims of kidnapping and extortion in Pattaya. Three Indian nationals have been rescued from captivity and five Indian citizens have been arrested for their part in this case.
As it turned out, the victims were tricked by a false seven-day package tour program which was offered to them at a low price. After arrival in Thailand, they were taken to a rented house in Pattaya, where they were being kept and tortured for ransom.
It is reported that the three men, aged 23 to 26 years old, arrived at Bangkok International Airport on July 21 and paid about 70,000 baht each for the package tour. Later, they were taken to Pattaya, where they were met by the criminals.
According to the police, the victims were separately transferred to a rented house and beaten up there by the kidnappers. During the captivity, they were allegedly subjected to torture, deprived of food and forced to call their relatives in India for ransom.
The gang allegedly asked for a total ransom of about 2.4 million baht.
Thailand Police freed the three male hostages on July 27 at a residence located in the district of Bang Lamung in Pattaya. The men were seen bound and injured due to an alleged physical assault.
The five Indians who are said to be Avtar Singh, Jagjit Singh, Rambalak Kumar, Sukhbir Singh, and Kulra Singh were arrested in Bangkok before leaving the country.
Police are also looking into the possible connection of the Pakistan nationals with this kidnapping incident. Police say that the scheme was run by people residing abroad.
According to investigators, the latest case shows that there is a rise in the use of criminals targeting tourists with attractive travel offers. The suspects used social media platforms and phone calls from foreign numbers in carrying out their operations.
The investigation of the kidnapping ring is still ongoing and authorities will keep on identifying the remaining people behind this crime.
