Three Indian tourists were allegedly held captive for a week as kidnappers demanded a ₹70 lakh ransom from their families
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
Thai police have arrested five Indian nationals on charges of allegedly kidnapping and torturing three fellow Indians in a ransom plot that investigators believe was coordinated by a Pakistan-linked suspect operating from Dubai. Authorities said the alleged mastermind remains under investigation as efforts continue to trace the wider network behind the crime.
According to investigators, the three victims, aged between 23 and 26, were lured to Thailand with the promise of an inexpensive seven-day holiday package. Each reportedly paid around 70,000 Thai baht before travelling to Bangkok and later Pattaya, where they were allegedly abducted after being picked up from a meeting point.
Police said the victims were confined inside a house in Bang Lamung district for nearly a week. Their hands, legs and mouths were tied, and they were allegedly beaten, denied food and prevented from using the toilet. Investigators said the captives were forced to contact their families in India and demand a combined ransom of around ₹70 lakh for their release.
The victims were rescued after their families alerted authorities in India, prompting coordination with Thai police. Officers later tracked the suspects to a hotel in Bangkok’s Khlong Tan area, where the five Indian nationals were arrested shortly before they were allegedly preparing to leave the country.
Thai investigators believe the operation was directed remotely by a Pakistan-linked individual based in Dubai, who allegedly communicated with the accused through an encrypted messaging application and intended to receive the ransom through digital transfers. Authorities are examining the suspect’s role and possible links to a broader criminal network.
The five accused remain in Thai custody and face legal proceedings. Police said investigations are continuing to identify additional suspects and establish the full extent of the cross-border kidnapping operation.
