Woman among five arrested for kidnapping and ransom demand in Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar, April 2: The Commissionerate Police arrested five individuals in connection with an alleged kidnapping case under Kharavela Nagar police limits in Odisha’s capital city. The swift action by the police led to the rescue of the victim within six hours of receiving the complaint.

The accused have been identified as Prapti Sharma (23) from Jamshedpur, and Rakesh Chandra Barik (33), Shyamsundar Sahoo (22), Sibaram Behera (28), and Akash Kumar Parida (29), all residents of Bhubaneswar.

According to police reports, Anjita Nayak of Jagatsinghpur, who currently resides in Jamshedpur, filed a complaint around 10 PM on April 1. She stated that she had received a call from her brother Somanath Swain’s (28) mobile phone, where the caller demanded a ransom of ₹10 lakh for his release. The caller also threatened dire consequences if the ransom was not paid.

Anjita further informed the police that Prapti Sharma, who had been staying with her brother, might have knowledge about the kidnapping. Suspecting foul play, the police launched an immediate investigation.

A special operation was launched, with three dedicated police teams formed to track the kidnappers. Utilizing phone call records, CCTV footage, and other technical evidence, the police swiftly traced the suspects and managed to rescue Somanath within six hours.

The accused were taken into custody and are being interrogated for further details regarding their motive and possible involvement of other individuals. Police have also seized mobile phones and other evidence related to the case.