Bhubaneswar/Jagatsinghpur: Jagatsinghpur district police rescued a 30-year-old man within hours of his alleged abduction from Bhubaneswar and arrested four accused persons including his brother-in-law in connection with the case. 

The victim, identified as Soumyakanta Muduli of Bantilo village under Astarang police limits in Puri district, was allegedly kidnapped near the BDA Sai Temple in Bhubaneswar at around 5.30 a.m. on May 7 (Thursday) and confined at Kantunia village under Naugaon police station limits in Jagatsinghpur district.

Police registered a case at Naugaon police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the D.P. Act following a complaint lodged by Monalisha Muduli, the victim’s elder sister.

Abduction allegedly linked to ongoing marital dispute

According to police, the abduction was allegedly masterminded by Monalisha’s husband, Samir Kumar Muduli, amid a prolonged marital dispute between the couple. Monalisha alleged that she had been subjected to repeated physical and mental torture by her husband over suspicions of his alleged extramarital affair.

She further claimed that after leaving her matrimonial home and taking shelter at her parental house, her husband repeatedly threatened her and her family members. In one incident on April 20, he allegedly attempted to strangulate her, while on another occasion he allegedly threatened her father with a billhook after following her to her parental village.

Accused allegedly kidnapped brother-in-law to pressure wife

Investigators said the accused persons allegedly planned the kidnapping to pressure Monalisha into returning to her husband’s house. Police said the accused knew that Soumyakanta worked at a canteen inside Kalinga Hospital near Nalco Square in Bhubaneswar and used to walk to work in the early morning hours.

As per the complaint, the four accused persons waited near BDA Sai Temple early on May 7 and forcibly abducted Soumyakanta in a Maruti Suzuki Omni van bearing registration number OD-02-J-8545. His mobile phone was allegedly snatched and he was threatened with death if he raised an alarm.

The victim was then allegedly taken to a roadside shop-cum-house at Kantunia village in Naugaon, where he was confined inside a locked room. Police said the accused also threatened to burn the victim alive by pouring petrol on him.

After receiving information through the 112 emergency response system, Naugaon police launched an immediate operation. Acting swiftly, a police team led by the Inspector-in-Charge of Naugaon police station raided the hideout at around 9.30 a.m. and rescued the victim safely.

Police said timely intervention prevented a possible fatal attack on the victim.

The four accused arrested in the case have been identified as Samir Kumar Muduli (38), Alok Kumar Nayak (34), Satyabrata Das (18), and Suryakant Senapati (30), all residents of Jagatsinghpur district. They were arrested on May 8 and are being forwarded to the court of the SDJM, Jagatsinghpur.

Police also seized the Maruti Suzuki Omni used in the crime and three mobile phones from the accused persons.

Officials said further investigation into the case is underway.