Odisha contractor abducted just 500 meters away from police station in Kendrapara

In a dramatic turn of events, police in Odisha’s Kendrapara district successfully rescued a local contractor, identified as Sunil Mohanty, who was abducted in broad daylight from near the Town police station area on Wednesday.

Two of his alleged abductors have been detained as investigations continue into the suspected motive behind the crime.

Daylight Kidnapping Near Police Station

According to police and family sources, Sunil Mohanty, a resident and contractor by profession, was dining with friends near the Town police station, just 500 metres from the premises, around 3 PM on Wednesday, when a group of 8 to 10 unidentified men arrived on separate vehicles.

Reports added that the group forcibly bundled Mohanty into a black car and fled the area. His friends were left terrified and clueless. His wife, Rashmita Mallick, lodged an immediate complaint, prompting police to launch a swift operation.

"When I called him at around 4 pm, his phone was ringing, but no one picked up the call. However, when I called around 5 or 6 pm, his phone was switched off,” said Mallick.

She also alleged that ‘seven to eight people had come in a car and a few motorcycles to kidnap him. They beat him up and forcibly pushed him inside a black car and fled after abducting him’.

Rescued Within 12 Hours Using Mobile Tracking

Acting on a mobile signal trace, police teams tracked Mohanty’s phone and managed to locate him in the Babara area under the Mahakalapada block, nearly 12 hours after the abduction. He was safely rescued around 3 AM on Thursday, and no injuries were reported.

Two suspects allegedly involved in the abduction were taken into custody from the same area. Both are believed to be residents of the Depura area under the Kendrapara Town police limits.

However, the audacity of the incident taking place in a busy locality and near a police station sent shockwaves through the town.

Business Rivalry Suspected

While the exact motive is yet to be officially confirmed, police sources said preliminary evidence suggests the kidnapping could be linked to business rivalry.

“We are questioning the detained suspects. A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain whether the abduction was planned due to professional disputes,” a senior police official said.