- Five Indian nationals have been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly kidnapping three Indian tourists in Pattaya, holding them captive and torturing them while demanding ransom in cryptocurrency from their families.
- The victims, all in their early 20s, were allegedly lured to Pattaya through what was advertised as a low-cost seven-day holiday package, before they were rescued by police on Monday.
- The suspects were arrested from a hotel in Khlong Tan area of Bangkok on Tuesday while they were waiting to board an outbound flight, according to police reports.
- The kidnappers had reportedly demanded Rs 40 lakh (around $41,831) from each family.
- During the raid, police recovered adhesive tape, a wooden object allegedly used to assault the victims, and red spray paint, which they believe was used to fake injuries in photos and videos sent to families to pressure them into paying up.
- The alleged mastermind is reportedly based in Dubai and had planned to receive ransom payment in cryptocurrency, according to media reports.
- According to sources, the suspects told Pattaya police that a Pakistani national they had connected with through a chat application about a month earlier had instructed them to kidnap the three Indian men.
- The case came to light after the Indian Embassy in Thailand informed Chonburi Immigration Police and Pattaya City Police on July 21, following complaints from the victims' families.
- According to a report, the victims told investigators that another Indian national had been held captive at the same property, and was allegedly released after his relatives paid about Rs 30 lakh in ransom.
- Citing local reports, PTI said the victims were found confined separately on the second floor of the house with their hands and feet tied and their mouths taped.
Five Indian nationals were arrested in Bangkok for allegedly kidnapping three Indian tourists in Pattaya, where they were held captive and tortured while ransom demands were made in cryptocurrency. The suspects were apprehended at a hotel in Khlong Tan district while attempting to flee the country.16
The victims, all in their early 20s, were lured to Thailand with promises of a low-cost holiday package. They were found confined separately, with their hands and feet tied and mouths taped, according to police reports. The kidnappers demanded ₹40 lakh (approximately $41,831) from each victim's family.2410
The alleged mastermind of the operation is believed to be based in Dubai, having instructed the suspects through a chat application to carry out the kidnapping. Investigators are also probing a possible connection to a Pakistani national, who reportedly played a role in the planning of the crime.7
The case came to light after the Indian Embassy in Thailand alerted local authorities on July 21, following complaints from the victims' families. During the police raid, evidence was recovered, including adhesive tape and a wooden object allegedly used to assault the victims, as well as red spray paint, which was used to simulate injuries in photos sent to the families to coerce them into paying the ransom.58
This incident highlights the growing concern over the safety of tourists in Thailand and the increasing sophistication of criminal operations targeting foreign nationals.
“The suspects, identified as Avtar Singh, Jagjit Singh, Rambalak Kumar, Sukhbir Singh, and Kulra Singh, allegedly demanded ₹40 lakh from each victim's family. Investigators revealed that the mastermind, based in Dubai, intended to receive ransom payments in cryptocurrency, highlighting a broader network involved in the crime.”
The Indian Express
