Durg man kidnapped, killed; contract killing suspected

Raipur: A 41-year-old man was kidnapped and later found murdered in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh. The police have stated that he had connections to a betting racket, indicating the possibility of a contract killing. The deceased man's wife received a ransom call on the night of May 31 after the kidnapping, but there were no further leads, according to the police. Later, his body was discovered on June 2 in a pond.Durg SP Shalabh Sinha said that the victim, Om Prakash Sahu, went missing on May 31 and did not return home after work. His wife reported the incident to the police, mentioning that she had received a ransom call from an unknown number, stating that the caller would provide further instructions regarding the amount and drop-off location.

The police attempted to trace the call, but the mobile phone was found switched off, and no additional calls were made by the kidnappers, Sinha said.Later, Sahu's body was found in a pond, concealed in a gunnysack. The rope of the sack was tied to his scooter, which was parked near the pond in the Akroldih region. The police believe that Sahu was murdered on the night he was abducted, and the ransom calls were made to mislead the police and buy time.It is suspected that Sahu's involvement in the betting and gambling racket may have led to his murder, as the initial investigation suggests that he owed several lakhs of rupees to gamblers. The police have apprehended two suspects in the case and are trying to establish links to the main accused in the murder. One of the suspects had previously served imprisonment in the Mahadev App case, indicating the possibility of a contract killing, according to the police.Sources reveal that Sahu was indebted to the tune of Rs 30-40 lakh, which he failed to pay to members of the racket. It is alleged that a history sheeter was paid Rs 10 lakh for carrying out the murder. Sahu was kidnapped, beaten to death, and subsequently dumped in the pond, as per the sources. The police have indicated possible links to Dubai in the case but have not disclosed any further details."
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