Rice mill owner accused of assault & hostage in Jashpur

Raipur: A rice mill operator in Jashpur district was booked for allegedly assaulting a father and son and holding them hostage over a business dispute. The incident occurred in Patthalgaon tehsil, where the owner of Kamla Rice Mill is accused of the assault and illegal confinement.According to police reports, the victims, both businessmen, were held captive for approximately four hours before being rescued. Police stated that a case was registered against the accused under sections 140(3), 296, 115(2), and 351(3) of BNS, including charges of kidnapping. An investigation is underway.Police sources indicate that a heated argument erupted between the rice mill operator and traders from the Lailunga area regarding rice procurement. The dispute reportedly escalated due to disagreements over financial transactions, which led to the hostage situation.The case originated from a complaint filed by Mukesh Agarwal, a resident of Jhgarpur under Lailunga police station in Raigarh district. Patthalgaon police registered a case against Kamla Rice Mill owner Parshuram Agarwal, his son Ayush Agarwal, and their nephew Shriram Kulrvala.In his complaint, Mukesh Agarwal alleged that he and his son, Yash Agarwal, brought two pickup trucks loaded with paddy and rice to the mill for sale. When a deal could not be finalised and they attempted to leave, Parshuram Agarwal, his son Ayush, and their nephew allegedly pursued them in a car, intercepted them near Shivpur, and attacked them.The victims further alleged that they received death threats and were assaulted at the mill and later at Parshuram's residence. They also claimed that Rs 3 lakh in cash was handed over by another trader.Upon receiving information about the incident, traders from the Lailunga area, with the assistance of Patthalgaon police, rescued the two businessmen from Parshuram's house on Jashpur Road, where they were being held. Police took the rescued businessmen to the police station, where a case was registered based on their complaint. "The father-son duo was assaulted, and the rice mill owner is absconding," said SHO Vineet Pandey. "We are currently focusing on the investigation as the case is in a nascent stage, particularly due to the rice-related angle in the case. Whether the rice mill operator was authorised to purchase rice from villagers/farmers is also a part of the investigation process," said the SDOP Dhruvesh Jaiswal.

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