Jaipur, Sep 8 (IANS) An Army soldier was allegedly kidnapped by a group of armed men while he was returning home from coaching in Rajasthan’s Sikar district a day before, police said on Tuesday.
The kidnappers later allegedly used his phone to call his wife and demand a Rs 10 lakh ransom.
The soldier, identified as Shriram Sihag (32), was on leave and had been preparing for the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination.
The incident took place at around 8 p.m. on Monday near Kerpura bus stand, when five to six unidentified men allegedly intercepted him and forcibly took him away in a vehicle.
Shriram’s motorcycle and helmet were found abandoned at the spot, raising an immediate alarm among his family and local residents.
According to the family, Shriram’s wife received a call from his phone at around 11:46 p.m. on Monday.
The caller allegedly told her that Shriram was safe and demanded Rs 10 lakh.
The caller reportedly said, “Shriram is safe with us. We will send the bank details. Transfer Rs 10 lakh to that account.”
The call was disconnected shortly afterwards.
The family then approached the police, following which a search operation was launched.
Police said the family has raised suspicion against another Army soldier over a previous financial dispute.
Khandela Station House Officer Surendra Singh said Shriram’s brother, Sher Singh, lodged a report and told police that Shriram had earlier been involved in a financial transaction-related dispute with another soldier from Karauli district during his posting in West Bengal.
The family suspects that the dispute could be linked to the alleged kidnapping.
Based on the information provided by the family, police have sent a team to Karauli to investigate the suspected connection.
Roadblocks have also been placed in surrounding areas, while teams are searching for the missing soldier.
According to his family, Shriram had been on leave for the past three to four months to prepare for the SI recruitment examination.
He joined the Army in 2013 and was currently posted in Punjab.
Police said they are investigating the case from multiple angles and are working to establish the identity of the suspects, trace the soldier and verify the alleged financial dispute.
The discovery of Shriram’s motorcycle and helmet at the spot, coupled with the alleged ransom call from his phone, has intensified the investigation.
–IANS
arc/khz
