'Call stopped coming since past 5 months': Gujarat couple claims son held captive in Thailand

NEW DELHI: A couple from Vadodara has claimed their 28-year-old son has been held captive for five months in Thailand, news agency PTI reported. City residents Nagarbhai Ranpara and his wife Rita said their son, Tushar, had been incommunicado for the past five months. They suspect he has been held in Thailand by agents who persuaded him to move to the Southeast Asian country nearly a year ago. The couple submitted an application to the Sama police station in Vadodara a few days ago, seeking help to trace their son and bring him back home. Assistant Commissioner of Police ('G' division), GB Bambhaniya, said on Wednesday, “As per the application submitted by Tushar's parents, he went to Dubai in April last year to work in a private firm with the help of two local immigration agents. Then, a Dubai-based agent named Abhishek Kumar sent him to Thailand in September 2024. The couple claimed Tushar stopped communicating with them five months ago.” He added, “The couple suspects their son has been held captive and is being forced to work without his consent. The probe has been handed over to the crime branch to trace Tushar and contact him as soon as possible.” Ranpara appealed to the Gujarat and central governments to trace his son and bring him home. He told reporters, “He remained in contact via video and voice calls after reaching Thailand last year. But his calls have stopped coming for the last five months. We suspect agents involved in sending him to Thailand took away his phone and held him captive. We appeal to the state government and the Centre to bring back our son.”