Mohali youth 'kidnapped' in Bali, released after paying a ransom of Rs. 24 L

A complaint of kidnapping for ransom and extortion has been filed by the police against unidentified individuals after they demanded Rs 30 lakh in exchange for the release of Ashutosh Rana, 22, of nearby Behlolpur.

The victim's family sent their youngster after another relative entered the country unlawfully a week earlier by way of Mexico and Indonesia. On September 29, the victim arrived in Bali, and soon after, his relatives began receiving calls demanding money.

The victim had informed the family on the phone that he and three other Punjabis (one from Chamkaur Sahib, another from Sanaur, Patiala, and the third one, a relative of the victim, from Mohali) had been kidnapped and locked in a room. The suspects, allegedly from Punjab origin, beat the youths and ripped off their nails from their fingers, his family claimed.

On the phone, the victim told his family that he and three other Punjabis—a Chamkaur Sahib resident, a Sanaur, Patiala resident, and the victim's relative from Mohali—had been taken hostage and imprisoned in a room. According to his relatives, the suspects, who are apparently of Punjabi descent, beat the young people and tore the nails off of their fingers.

The family opened a private bank account in Ludhiana and deposited Rs 24 lakh there. According to reports, the money was taken out in Jalandhar.

He believes they lure kids with promises of a better life abroad by living in Indonesia and abducting and demanding money from them. They promise them that payment would be made after the student is in the US and refuse to accept advance payment. 

According to Rana's relatives, they sent even the airline ticket so that they could not be located here.

"It has now been discovered that seven additional people were deceived in the same way. According to Manjeet Rana, sarpanch of Behlolpur and an uncle of one of the fatalities, their family members had spoken with senior police officers in Mohali.

According to the police, the involvement of a resident of Kharar, travel brokers in Jalandhar, and several Amritsar airport staff members are being investigated.

According to the authorities, three minors were released after making the payment and were traveling back home via plane.