Thai Police Rescue Three Indians Held Captive; Five Suspects Arrested, Dubai Link Probed
Thai authorities have arrested five Indian nationals on charges of kidnapping three fellow Indians and demanding ransom for their release. The suspects were detained at a hotel in Bangkok's Khlong Tan district on Tuesday, reportedly while attempting to leave Thailand, according to the Bangkok Post.
The victims were allegedly lured to Thailand under the pretence of a budget holiday package. Instead, they were taken to a house in Pattaya and held hostage for several days. Police rescued them during a raid on Monday evening.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Avtar Singh (38), Jagjit Singh (38), Rambalak Kumar (24), Sukhbir Singh (37), and Kulra Singh (27). Investigators stated that the suspects told Pattaya police they had been instructed by a Pakistani national they contacted through a chat application approximately a month ago. The alleged mastermind is believed to be operating from Dubai and aimed to extort cryptocurrency payments from the victims, promising the kidnappers the victims' cash and valuables along with airline tickets to flee Thailand.
The case came to light after the Indian Embassy in Thailand informed Chonburi Immigration Police and Pattaya City Police on July 21, following complaints from the victims' families. Relatives shared video call recordings showing the men with their hands and feet bound and being beaten. The kidnappers demanded Rs 40 lakh (approximately $41,831) from each family.
Acting on tip-offs and CCTV footage, police raided a two-storey townhouse in Pattaya and rescued the three men, identified as Mohit (23), Ashish (24), and Himanshu (20). Officers found them on the upper floor, tied up and gagged, with visible signs of assault. During the raid, police recovered adhesive tape, a wooden object allegedly used to assault the victims, and red spray paint believed to have been used to fake injuries in photos and videos sent to families to pressure them into paying.
The rescued men also told investigators that another Indian had been held at the same house before them and was freed only after his family paid approximately Rs 30 lakh in ransom. Police continue to investigate the alleged Dubai-based mastermind and the possible cross-border connections.
