A dramatic twist has emerged in the Thailand kidnapping case after authorities arrested five Indian nationals accused of abducting three fellow Indians and demanding ransom from their families. According to Thai investigators, a Pakistani national believed to be operating from Dubai is suspected of orchestrating the entire operation.
Police claim the accused were recruited through a messaging application and were promised financial rewards in exchange for carrying out the kidnappings.
Five Indian Nationals Arrested In Bangkok
Thai police arrested five suspects—Avtar Singh (38), Jagjit Singh (38), Rambalak Kumar (24), Sukhbir Singh (37), and Kulra Singh (27)—at a hotel in Bangkok’s Khlong Tan district. Authorities said the group was allegedly preparing to leave Thailand when they were taken into custody.
Investigators believe the arrests have helped uncover a larger cross-border criminal network behind the kidnappings.
Dubai-Based Pakistani National Under Investigation
During questioning, the suspects reportedly told investigators that they had been contacted about a month ago by a Pakistani national through a chat application.
According to police, the alleged mastermind, who is believed to be based in Dubai, instructed them to abduct three Indian men and extort cryptocurrency from their families. In return, the suspects were allegedly promised the victims’ cash, valuables, and airline tickets to help them escape Thailand after completing the operation.
Victims Lured To Thailand With Fake Holiday Offer
Investigators said the three victims were persuaded to travel to Thailand after being offered an affordable seven-day holiday package to Pattaya.
However, instead of a vacation, they were allegedly taken to a house, held captive for several days, and physically assaulted while their families were pressured to pay ransom.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded ₹40 lakh from each victim’s family in exchange for their safe release.
Indian Embassy Alerted Thai Authorities
The case came to light after the Indian Embassy in Thailand informed Chonburi Immigration Police and Pattaya City Police on July 21 following complaints received from the victims’ relatives.
Family members reportedly shared video call recordings showing the victims tied up, assaulted, and pleading for help, prompting Thai authorities to launch an urgent investigation.
Police Rescue Three Victims In Pattaya
Using intelligence inputs and CCTV footage, Thai police raided a two-storey townhouse in Pattaya on Monday and successfully rescued the three kidnapped men—Mohit (23), Ashish (24), and Himanshu (20).
Officials said the victims were found on the upper floor of the property with their hands and feet tied, mouths gagged, and visible injuries indicating they had been subjected to physical abuse.
Evidence Recovered During Raid
During the search, investigators recovered several items believed to have been used during the crime, including:
- Adhesive tape
- A wooden object allegedly used to assault the victims
- Red spray paint reportedly used to create fake injury scenes in photos and videos sent to the victims’ families
Police believe these materials were used to intensify pressure on relatives and convince them to pay the ransom.
Another Victim May Have Been Held Earlier
The rescued men also told investigators that another Indian national had previously been confined at the same location.
According to their statements, the individual was released only after his family allegedly paid approximately ₹30 lakh as ransom.
Thai authorities are continuing their investigation to identify everyone involved in the alleged kidnapping racket, including the suspected mastermind operating from Dubai, while also examining whether the group is linked to other similar cross-border crimes.