3 arrested for Kidnapping and seeking ransom in Kalapara

Arrest

Patuakhali: Police have arrested three people in Kalapara, Patuakhali, for kidnapping a battery-powered autovan driver and demanding a ransom of 5 lakh taka. The kidnapped youth was rescued alive in the operation. At the same time, his used autovan and two mobile phones were also recovered.

According to the case, Md. Rafi Khan (19), son of Md. Hasan, a resident of Tarikata area of Dhulasar union in Mohipur upazila, is a battery-powered autovan driver by profession. On June 13, the accused persons used Rafi's rented autovan and travelled around different areas of Kuakata and collected his mobile number by promising to rent it again the next day.

The next day, on June 14, the accused asked Rafi to come in front of the Abul Kashem Jame Mosque in Hajipur Bridge area of Nilganj union in Kalapara upazila. The complaint states that after reaching there, he was forcibly kidnapped and taken to an unknown location in a planned manner.

After the kidnapping, the miscreants contacted Rafi's family and demanded a ransom of 5 lakh taka. Rafi's father Md. Hasan paid 50 thousand taka in the hope of getting his son back alive. Even then, the complaint states that Rafi was threatened with killing if he did not pay the remaining money.

Upon receiving the news of the incident, the Kalapara police immediately launched a raid. Accused Md. Zahid Pyada and Md. Imran Gazi were arrested from the bus stand area at night. Later, based on the information provided by them, a raid was conducted in the Nishanbaria area of Chakamiya Union and the kidnapped Rafi Khan was rescued. At that time, the auto van and two mobile phones used by him were recovered. And the other accused Md. Koel Gazi was also arrested.

After the rescue, Rafi Khan said that after the kidnapping, he was kept in a secluded place and beaten and physically tortured. The main purpose was to extort ransom from his family. He was later rescued in an injured condition and admitted to Kalapara Upazila Health Complex.

Rafi's father Md. Hasan has filed a case with Kalapara Police Station on charges of kidnapping and ransom demand.

Kalapara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazrul Islam said, "The kidnapped youth was safely rescued and three accused were arrested through the operation. Investigation and operation are continuing to identify and arrest others involved in the incident." - Gofran Palash