Agartala, September 20: An Indian tourist from South Tripura, who was kidnapped in Bangladesh earlier this week, safely returned to India after paying a ransom.
The victim, identified as Challa Fur Mog, a rubber tapper from Radhanagar in Belonia, entered Tripura through the Belonia land port on Friday.
The kidnapping came to light on Thursday when Mog’s wife, Swapna Mog, approached the Belonia immigration office and the PR Bari police station to lodge a formal complaint.
According to Swapna, her husband had been abducted by unknown assailants while on his way back from a tour of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The kidnappers demanded a ransom for his release.
However, in a shocking revelation, Swapna alleged that the local police did not accept her complaint, instead advising her to pay the ransom and “settle” the matter. Following this, she reportedly paid online ₹20,000 to the kidnappers.
Speaking to reporters after his return, Challa Fur Mog recounted the harrowing ordeal.
Mog had gone on a tour to Chittagong on September 13 and was abducted on the morning of September 17.
He had stopped at Shiura Bazaar in Chodyogram for breakfast during his return journey when the kidnappers seized him.
Initially, the abductors demanded ₹10 lakh as ransom, but after negotiations, his family managed to secure his release by paying ₹20,000.
Once released, Mog lodged a formal complaint with the Bangladesh police. He provided details about his captivity, explaining that he had been held inside a large compound surrounded by high walls. Acting on this information, Bangladesh police conducted a raid, arresting one of the kidnappers, while five others managed to escape.
Mog spent two days in the custody of Bangladesh police while investigations continued. He was finally handed over to Indian authorities, including the BSF and Tripura police, during a flag meeting at the Belonia land port on Friday.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of India’s traveling to neighboring Bangladesh and handling of the case by local authorities, particularly the alleged refusal by the PR Bari police to accept the complaint, further complicating the ordeal for Mog’s family.
