Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Man Fakes Kidnapping, Seeks Ransom From Brother Abroad
Pradeep Bhattarai was reported missing by his family after disappearing in Guwahati.
His brother, who works in Dubai, then received calls asking for ransom money.
The caller claimed that Bhattarai had been kidnapped.
Police tracked the calls to a construction site in Palin township.
They found Bhattarai there on August 16.
Police said he admitted that he had planned the kidnapping story himself.
He allegedly used another worker’s phone and changed his voice.
Bhattarai and the other worker were later handed over to Assam Police.
Pradeep Bhattarai, reported missing in Guwahati on August 2, was traced to Kra Daadi district in Arunachal Pradesh.
His brother in Dubai received ransom calls on August 14 and 15 demanding payment through UPI.
Police traced the calls to a construction site in Palin township and raided it on August 16.
Bhattarai allegedly used construction worker Lucky Kanta Payang’s phone and disguised his voice during the calls.
Both men were handed over to an Assam Police team on August 17 after legal formalities.
- Who
- Pradeep Bhattarai was found with construction worker Lucky Kanta Payang; Assam and Arunachal Pradesh police were involved.
- What
- Police said Bhattarai allegedly faked his own kidnapping and demanded ransom from his brother.
- When
- He was reported missing on August 2, traveled on August 8 and 10, made ransom calls on August 14 and 15, and was apprehended on August 16.
- Where
- The calls were traced to a construction site in Palin township, Kra Daadi district, Arunachal Pradesh; Bhattarai had earlier been missing from Guwahati.
- Why
- According to police, Bhattarai staged the abduction to extort money from his family abroad.
- Missing person
- Pradeep Bhattarai
- Reported missing
- August 2, from Guwahati
- Ransom recipient
- Bhattarai’s brother in Dubai
- Ransom method
- Calls demanding payment through UPI
- Call-tracing location
- A construction site in Palin township
- Apprehension date
- August 16
- Police handover
- Both individuals were handed to an Assam Police team on August 17