Indian Tourists Rescued After Kidnap Ordeal in Pattaya

Three Indian tourists have been rescued by Thai police after being kidnapped, tortured and held for ransom for five days in Pattaya in what investigators believe is a new form of scam targeting foreign visitors.

The rescue took place at around 4pm on 27 July after officers from Pattaya City Police, Chonburi Immigration, Nong Prue Police and investigators from all three agencies surrounded a townhouse in Moo 13, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. Members of the Pattaya Indian Association also assisted the operation.

Police said the suspected kidnappers fled on motorcycles moments before officers entered the property. Inside, they found three Indian men bound with their hands tied behind their backs and their mouths taped shut.

Victims lured by cheap Thailand tour

The victims were identified as Himanshu, 23, Ahis, 24, and Meghid, 26. All three had visible injuries, including severe bruising to both ankles, which they said had been repeatedly beaten with a wooden object. One victim had also been sprayed with paint to resemble blood.

According to the victims, they had each paid around 70,000 baht for a seven-day tour of Thailand. After arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 5am on 21 July, they took a taxi to Pattaya, where they were collected one at a time on motorcycles on Sukhumvit Road and taken to the townhouse.

Through an interpreter, the men told police they were tied up by five men, believed to be four Pakistani nationals and one Indian national. They alleged they were suspended upside down, beaten, denied food and water, and prevented from using the toilet while being forced to telephone relatives in India to demand a ransom.

The kidnappers allegedly used satellite phone connections routed through the United Arab Emirates to contact family members and demanded a total of 7 million Indian rupees, equivalent to about 2.5 million baht, in exchange for the men’s release.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

After being freed, the three men immediately contacted relatives in India to tell them they had been rescued safely.

Police hunting five suspects

Pol Col Napatphong Kositsuriyamanee, chief of Chonburi Immigration Police, said the operation began after relatives in India contacted Thai authorities fearing the men had been abducted. He said tracing the victims proved difficult because the calls were made using telecommunications routed through the UAE.

Police believe five suspects were involved - four Pakistani nationals and one Indian national - but all escaped before officers entered the house. Investigators are continuing efforts to identify and arrest them.

Authorities believe the case may represent a new scam model in which victims are lured to Thailand with inexpensive package tours before being kidnapped and held for ransom.

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28 July 2026