Odisha Couple Held For Kidnapping Nephew, Demanding Rs 5 Lakh Ransom

Kendrapada: Police Tuesday arrested a couple of Chatarachakada village under Derabishi block in the district on charges of kidnapping their six-year-old nephew and demanding Rs five lakh ransom.

According to sources, the accused identified as Ranjan Jena had lost his contractual job in a Bhubaneswar-based private company after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

After losing his job, Ranjan faced acute financial crisis and allegedly hatched the plot to kidnap his younger brother’s son, sources added.

“I was in Kendrapara when my wife called me up and informed that our son was missing. Later, I got a call where the kidnapper demanded Rs 5 lakh ransom and threatened to kill my son if I fail to pay up. He also threatened to kill me if I report the matter to police,” allege Ajay Kumar Jena, the complainant.

Ranjan and his wife were arrested from Bhubaneswar and the child was rescued unharmed within 24 hours of his family lodging a police complaint, the sources said.

“The couple has been arrested on kidnapping charges. Family feud and financial crisis are the reason behind the abduction,” said Krutibas Jena, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kendrapada.

Both the accused have been booked under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 364-A (kidnapping for ransom) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and remanded to judicial custody after a local court dismissed their bail application.