Five Indian nationals have been arrested after three Indian tourists were allegedly kidnapped, assaulted and held for ransom in Pattaya, police said on 28 July 2026.
The suspects were detained at a hotel in Bangkok's Khlong Tan police area as they allegedly waited to leave Thailand. They were later taken back to Pattaya City Police Station for questioning.
The three alleged victims - Haimanchu, 23, Ehis, 24, and Mekhid, 26 - were rescued from a house in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi. They had travelled from India on a tour package to visit Pattaya before the alleged abduction.
Arrests made before suspected departure
Chonburi Immigration Police, Pattaya City Police and Nong Prue Police took part in the initial rescue operation.
Following an investigation, police arrested five men, all Indian nationals: Avtar Singh, 38; Jagjit Singh, 38; Rambalak Kumar, 24; Sukhbir Singh, 37; and Kulra Singh, 27.
Police said the group had checked into the Bangkok hotel while awaiting flights out of the country.
During questioning, the suspects allegedly confessed that the operation had been directed by a Pakistani national. They told investigators they would receive only property taken from the victims, while money transferred by the victims was sent as cryptocurrency to an account controlled by the alleged organiser.
The suspects said they knew the alleged organiser only as a Pakistani national based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. They reportedly met him through an app around one month ago and were told that, if the job was completed, he would arrange tickets for them to leave Thailand for another country.
Charges include kidnapping and armed robbery
Police have forwarded the five suspects for legal action on charges including jointly kidnapping and demanding ransom by unlawfully detaining people and threatening physical harm.
Picture courtesy of Workpoint
They also face allegations of jointly committing armed robbery, using a vehicle to facilitate the offence or remove stolen property, and jointly unlawfully detaining people or otherwise depriving them of physical liberty.
The superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station gave a financial reward to the station's investigation team in recognition of the rapid arrests before the suspects could leave Thailand.
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29 July 2026
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