Tripura, 24 April: In a major breakthrough, East Agartala Police have busted a kidnapping-and-extortion racket operating in the heart of the city, arresting five accused and seizing the vehicle used in the crimes.
Officer-in-Charge Subrata Debnath said the case (No. 43/2024) was registered following a complaint that a man was forcibly abducted from near the Anandamayi Ashram area and pushed into a white WagonR. The victim alleged he was assaulted inside the car, threatened with a knife, and robbed of cash and his mobile phone.
Acting on the complaint, police identified the vehicle using Smart City surveillance cameras and detained the driver. During custodial interrogation, the accused revealed the names of his associates. Based on this information, police conducted operations in plain clothes and arrested three more suspects from the North Gate area on Thursday night.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rajesh Das (Bordowali), Ankur Namasudra (Bhattapukur), and Supratim Chowdhury (Old Kalibari Road, Krishnanagar). Earlier, the alleged mastermind Sharif Miah was arrested along with his father, who is accused of providing the vehicle used in the crimes. Both are currently in judicial custody.
Police said the gang followed a pattern of roaming around the city in a car, targeting individuals found alone. Suspecting that the victims carried valuables, they would forcibly abduct them, assault them, and rob them of money and mobile phones before abandoning them in isolated areas.
“All five accused have been arrested. The remaining three will be produced in court and we will seek their police remand to recover stolen items, including multiple mobile phones,” Debnath said.
Investigators believe the gang may have been involved in multiple such incidents across different police station areas, though only one formal complaint has been registered so far. Further investigation is underway to trace additional victims and recover stolen property.
Police have appealed to the public to remain cautious and report any suspicious activities, reaffirming that continuous surveillance and prompt action led to dismantling the gang.
