Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), July 19: Koraput police have arrested 13 individuals, including three women, in connection with the abduction of rice mill owner A. Ramesh Patra last week.
The arrested suspects are Jeet Mahuria (28), Tutu Khosla (25), Rahit Suna (22), Firz Nag (24), Minakshi Mohuria (28), Prabina Mohuria (45), Tarunum Begum (22), Rasha Bag (19), Prasado Khila (22), and Damu Nayak (21) from Jeypore town; Raghunath Harijan (32) from Kotpad; Junesh Padasethy (26) from Pottangi; and Santosh Benia from Sunabeda.
Harijan, an employee at the rice mill, had allegedly provided information about Patra to the kidnappers. Koraput SP Abhinav Sonkar informed the media in Borrigumma that eight of the arrested individuals are known criminals previously involved in kidnapping cases. Two additional suspects remain at large.
Jeet Mahuria has been identified as the mastermind behind the kidnapping.
The SP explained that although the family initially reported the incident, they later cut off communication out of fear, which caused a delay in the investigation. It was later discovered that the family had paid Rs 25 lakh to the kidnappers, unaware that Patra had already been rescued.
Police have recovered Rs 2,48,500 of the ransom money, which was paid in the first installment, along with two pistols, live ammunition, daggers, mobile phones, three cars, a motorcycle, and at least 13 additional mobile phones from the suspects.
