Indian Gang Arrested Over Alleged Kidnapping of Tourists in Pattaya

Indian Gang Arrested Over Alleged Kidnapping of Tourists in Pattaya

Thai police have arrested five Indian nationals accused of kidnapping and holding three fellow Indian tourists for ransom in Pattaya. Police say the victims were allegedly held captive inside a townhouse after being targeted by the gang, with the suspects demanding money and threatening the victims. The investigation initially led authorities to believe the group included Pakistani nationals, but police now say all five people arrested are Indian citizens who allegedly acted on instructions from a Pakistani mastermind based in Dubai. Pattaya police and Chon Buri Immigration eventually tracked the suspects to a hotel in Bangkok, where they were arrested as they waited to leave Thailand on flights. Police say the five suspects confessed during questioning, although the allegations will still have to be established through the legal process. They face charges including unlawful detention, demanding ransom through threats of violence, armed robbery and depriving people of their liberty. Investigators are continuing to look into the alleged Dubai connection and whether anyone else was involved.