Post by : Badri Ariffin

Thai police have arrested five Indian nationals accused of kidnapping three fellow Indians in Thailand and demanding ransom from their families for their release. The suspects were detained at a hotel in Bangkok's Khlong Tan district on Tuesday while they were allegedly preparing to leave the country, according to the Bangkok Post.

Police said the victims had been invited to Thailand with the promise of an affordable holiday package but were instead taken captive and held for ransom.

Five Indian Nationals Identified by Police

The arrested suspects have been identified as:

• Avtar Singh, 38
• Jagjit Singh, 38
• Rambalak Kumar, 24
• Sukhbir Singh, 37
• Kulra Singh, 27

According to investigators, the suspects told Pattaya police that they had been contacted about a month earlier by a Pakistani national through a chat application. They claimed the person instructed them to abduct the three Indian men.

Investigators believe the alleged mastermind was operating from Dubai and planned to extort cryptocurrency payments from the victims' families. Police said the accused kidnappers were allegedly promised the victims' cash, valuables and airline tickets to help them escape Thailand after completing the operation.

Victims Lured With Budget Holiday Offer

Police said the three victims were promised a seven-day budget holiday in Pattaya. Instead of being taken on vacation, they were allegedly transported to a house where they were held against their will for several days.

Investigators said the victims were allegedly tortured during their captivity before being rescued in a police operation on Monday evening.

Indian Embassy Alert Led to Investigation

The investigation began after the Indian Embassy in Thailand informed Chonburi Immigration Police and Pattaya City Police on July 21 following complaints received from the victims' families.

According to police, family members shared video call recordings showing the victims with their hands and feet tied while they were allegedly being assaulted. The kidnappers reportedly demanded ₹40 lakh from each family in exchange for their release.

Police Rescue Three Victims During Raid

Using CCTV footage and other intelligence, officers traced the location and raided a two-storey townhouse in Pattaya on Monday.

During the operation, police rescued three Indian nationals identified as Mohit, 23, Ashish, 24, and Himanshu, 20.

Officers said the victims were found on the upper floor of the house with their hands and feet tied and their mouths gagged. Police also reported visible injuries on their bodies.

Evidence Recovered From the House

During the search, investigators recovered adhesive tape, a wooden object believed to have been used to assault the victims, and red spray paint.

Police believe the spray paint was used to create fake injury images and videos that were sent to the victims' families to pressure them into paying the ransom.

Police Probe Earlier Kidnapping Claim

The rescued victims also told investigators that another Indian national had previously been held at the same property.

According to their statements, that individual was released only after his family reportedly paid around ₹30 lakh in ransom.

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