A Howrah-based garment trader has allegedly been kidnapped either in Bihar or Jharkhand. Mukesh Chowdhury, the trader from Belur, had gone to Patna on October 8 for business purpose. Mr Chowdhury, in his late 40s, informed his family on October 10 that he was in Tatanagar for visiting a factory. On Thursday morning, however, Mr Chowdhury called up her young daughter Sonam from his cellphone and asked her to send `8 lakhs to him. That was the last time he spoke to the family, the police has learnt. Getting suspicious, the family lodged a complaint of abduction with the Bally police station. The Howrah city police has launched a probe.
The family told the police that Mr Chowdhury did not give any reason for seeking the money, an officer
disclosed. The last tower location of the trader’s cellphone has been tracked down to Jamshedpur in Jharkhand.
The police suspects that the trader is being held hostage there by the kidnappers who have forced Mr Chowdhury make the call for money to keep themselves out of scanner. On Friday morning, Sonam left for Jamshedpur with the money, sources added.
Meanwhile, a businessman in Tiljala received a bullet wrapped in a threat letter demanding an extortion of `6 lakhs.
An unidentified man handed the letter to the trader at home on September 14.
A complaint was lodged at the Tiljala police station and detective department at Lalbazar later. The letter was written by one Sheikh Quadir, the police said. But no one was arrested so far.