DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 20 (MExN): Almost a month since the reported kidnapping of a schoolboy on September 21 last, mystery surrounds the nature of the case, while it continues without any significant progress. Further still, the whereabouts of the boy is shrouded in mystery.
The hostage in question is a ten-year old boy, son of a Dimapur based small time building contractor identified as one Pravindra Singh. According to the initial reports, the boy reportedly went missing (or was abducted) on the morning of September 21. The family resides at Signal Basti. The family of the boy had also filed a police complaint.
However, the investigation that followed was one of ‘wild goose chase’ for the police with the father dilly-dallying on his statements, further having investigators baffled. At first, it was reported that the abductors ransomed the father for a sum of Rs. 2 lakh for the safe release of the boy. Later reports emerged that the boy was picked up by ‘loan sharks’ to force the father to return a long pending debt. The father reportedly owes a lot of money to an undisclosed number of individuals, including underground functionaries.
Father resurfaces claiming he was forcefully confined
Adding more confusion, the father went missing some days after the first report surfaced. It was on September 28. According to reliable sources, he resurfaced a few days back claiming he was abducted and forcefully confined by ‘some underground people’; and beaten while in their custody. He got himself admitted into a hospital and is currently under medical attention, the sources said.
Just before he went missing, the father had provided a phone number to investigators claiming he had received ransom calls from that particular number. Investigators were able to trace out the location of the number and had carried a raid at an undisclosed location in Dimapur the night he went missing. The number turned out to be hoax, reportedly meant to mislead. A suspect was also detained by police, who was later released.
According to the sources, it is suspected to be a case of ‘unpaid debts’. Nevertheless, it was learned that police will be pursuing the case till at least some hints are established as to the whereabouts of the boy.
The hostage in question is a ten-year old boy, son of a Dimapur based small time building contractor identified as one Pravindra Singh. According to the initial reports, the boy reportedly went missing (or was abducted) on the morning of September 21. The family resides at Signal Basti. The family of the boy had also filed a police complaint.
However, the investigation that followed was one of ‘wild goose chase’ for the police with the father dilly-dallying on his statements, further having investigators baffled. At first, it was reported that the abductors ransomed the father for a sum of Rs. 2 lakh for the safe release of the boy. Later reports emerged that the boy was picked up by ‘loan sharks’ to force the father to return a long pending debt. The father reportedly owes a lot of money to an undisclosed number of individuals, including underground functionaries.
Father resurfaces claiming he was forcefully confined
Adding more confusion, the father went missing some days after the first report surfaced. It was on September 28. According to reliable sources, he resurfaced a few days back claiming he was abducted and forcefully confined by ‘some underground people’; and beaten while in their custody. He got himself admitted into a hospital and is currently under medical attention, the sources said.
Just before he went missing, the father had provided a phone number to investigators claiming he had received ransom calls from that particular number. Investigators were able to trace out the location of the number and had carried a raid at an undisclosed location in Dimapur the night he went missing. The number turned out to be hoax, reportedly meant to mislead. A suspect was also detained by police, who was later released.
According to the sources, it is suspected to be a case of ‘unpaid debts’. Nevertheless, it was learned that police will be pursuing the case till at least some hints are established as to the whereabouts of the boy.
