📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Callmehelper
Crime
Banka Youth Abducted After Instagram Friendship, 27 Lakh Ransom Demanded, Three Arrested
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bihar
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 02:18 PM
👁 25
Bihar police in Banka district have nabbed three suspects after a local youth was kidnapped and extorted for Rs 27 lakh following an Instagram‑based friendship.
A young man from Banka, Bihar, identified as Sawan Kumar, had established a friendship with a girl named Shivani Kumari through Instagram. According to investigators, the trust built online was exploited when the girl’s acquaintances invited Kumar to meet her, using the pretext of a personal meeting.
When Kumar arrived at the designated location, he was seized by a group of men and taken hostage. The kidnappers subsequently contacted his family, demanding a ransom of Rs 27 lakh for his release. The family was left with no option but to negotiate under pressure.
Law enforcement agencies launched a swift investigation, tracing the calls and movements linked to the abduction. Within days, three individuals alleged to have orchestrated the kidnapping were arrested by the Banka police. Their identities have not been disclosed pending further inquiry.
Police officials warned the public about the dangers of meeting online acquaintances in person without proper verification. They urged citizens to exercise caution while using social media platforms and to report any suspicious approaches to the authorities.
The case underscores the growing concern over cyber‑enabled crimes in rural India, prompting calls for heightened awareness and stricter enforcement against such fraudulent schemes.
When Kumar arrived at the designated location, he was seized by a group of men and taken hostage. The kidnappers subsequently contacted his family, demanding a ransom of Rs 27 lakh for his release. The family was left with no option but to negotiate under pressure.
Law enforcement agencies launched a swift investigation, tracing the calls and movements linked to the abduction. Within days, three individuals alleged to have orchestrated the kidnapping were arrested by the Banka police. Their identities have not been disclosed pending further inquiry.
Police officials warned the public about the dangers of meeting online acquaintances in person without proper verification. They urged citizens to exercise caution while using social media platforms and to report any suspicious approaches to the authorities.
The case underscores the growing concern over cyber‑enabled crimes in rural India, prompting calls for heightened awareness and stricter enforcement against such fraudulent schemes.