What started as a hopeful journey for better opportunities ended in nightmare captivity for two Bangladeshi men in Kolkata—until police turned the tables.
Arriving with valid Indian visas, Rajiv Laskar and Junaid Mia aimed for Turkey via a shadowy broker network. Humayun Kabir linked them with Achintya Kumar Pal, who dangled visa guarantees. Instead of stamps, they got shackles at a Techocity hotel.
The extortion was methodical: Rs 3 lakh wired from a Bangladeshi bank, followed by escalated demands. Trapped and terrified, their desperate plight reached police ears through secret channels.
Techocity station officers executed a precision raid Monday, liberating the hostages and collaring the culprits red-handed. Kabir and Pal, now in irons, were hauled to Barasat Court Tuesday amid tight security.
‘Custody remands will unlock more details,’ a Bidhannagar Police senior assured. ‘We’re probing links to prior offenses and hunting down associates.’
This bust illuminates a pernicious trend of fake agents weaponizing migration aspirations. From luring victims with overseas job mirages to holding them for ransom, these gangs operate with chilling impunity.
Kolkata Police’s action reaffirms commitment to border security. Yet, it begs questions: How many more languish unseen? Enhanced intelligence, public awareness, and international cooperation could stem this tide, safeguarding dreams from descending into detention.