Odisha Police rescued a nine-year-old boy named Ayush from Puri, who had been kidnapped for ransom from Patabhadi in Sonepur district.
The child was abducted on Sunday evening while visiting a nearby fast-food shop. The kidnappers, identified as miscreants from Uttar Pradesh, lured the boy and took him to Puri, where he was confined in front of Mahabir Guest House near Market Chhak.
The abductors demanded Rs 20 lakh from Ayush’s father, Sradhakar Nayak, threatening harm through repeated WhatsApp calls and messages. A case was registered at Sonepur police station, and three independent squads were formed under the supervision of SP Narayan Nayak and Northern Range IG Himanshu Lal.
Cyber teams from Sonepur and Bolangir worked tirelessly to trace the location, while Puri SP Prateek Singh and City DSP coordinated the rescue. The police recovered a vehicle and a firearm magazine from Jagannath Ballav parking, believed to be used by the accused. Although the kidnappers managed to escape, the child was safely reunited with his parents.
The incident has sparked widespread concern in the peaceful town of Sonepur, with demands from civil society for the immediate arrest of the absconding culprits. Authorities have assured that a dedicated squad is actively pursuing the fugitives.
