Five Indians held in Thailand over Pattaya kidnapping-for-ransom case

Five Indian nationals were arrested in Thailand for allegedly abducting three fellow Indian tourists and demanding a ransom. According to reports, the victims were lured to Pattaya through a cheap seven-day holiday package, taken to a house, held captive for several days, and assaulted. The abductors allegedly demanded INR 40 lakh from the family of each victim, sending video recordings of the bound and assaulted victims to pressure them for payment.

The case came to light when relatives of the victims complained to the Indian Embassy in Thailand, which then alerted local authorities including Chonburi Immigration Police and Pattaya City Police. Security camera footage and intelligence led police to raid a townhouse in Pattaya on a Monday evening, where they rescued the three victims from separate confinement on the second floor with signs of assault.

Following the rescue, Thai police tracked and arrested the five suspects at a hotel in Bangkok's Khlong Tan area on Tuesday as they waited to board an outbound flight. Investigators stated that the suspects claimed they acted on instructions from a Pakistani national based in Dubai, whom they met through a chat application, and were promised cash, valuables, and airline tickets in return. Rescued victims also reported that another Indian national had previously been held at the same property and released after a ransom payment.

Not yet reported: The exact identity or apprehension status of the alleged mastermind based in Dubai is not reported.