Prayagraj Youth Called To Thailand From Dubai For Job, 'Kidnapped' After Landing In Bangkok

A youth from Prayagraj is allegedly being held hostage in Bangkok, Thailand, with his kidnappers demanding a ransom of Rs 22 lakh. The family has now reached out to the Indian government for help.

File photo of Zia Panjatan.

Source : X

A 31-year-old youth from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, is allegedly being held hostage for ransom in Thailand's capital Bangkok. The victim's family has now appealed to the Central government and the Indian High Commission for help. Zia Panjatan, who hails from Prayagraj, had been missing since July 22. Zia Panjatan's sister Kaneez Panjatan has sent an email to the Central Government and the Indian High Commission to get him released.

According to Kaneez Panjatan, the last call from her brother Zia came on July 22. It was a WhatsApp call. During the conversation,  Zia told Kaneez that he was taken from his hotel and to an unknown location. He said that his kidnappers were demanding a ransom of Rs 22 lakh for his release.

As soon as he said this, his call got disconnected and he could not be contacted again. The panicked family now fears the worst.

Prayagraj Youth Went To Thailand For Job

According to the family, Zia Panjatan had gone to Dubai two years ago. He worked at a warehouse company and a bank there. Meanwhile, he got a 'job offer' from a Chinese company and was called to join work in Thailand. He returned to Hyderabad from Dubai on July 10 and took a flight to Thailand on July 11.

Five others were there along with him.

After reaching Bangkok in Thailand, he spoke to his family on July 13. He told them that he was putting up at a hotel in Bangkok and was in a room with the 5 others who flew with him from Hyderabad. According to Kaneez, her brother's mobile was switched off on July 14 and he remained untraceable since. His family became scared and worried.

Second Call Received On July 23

They received the first call from Zia on July 22, wherein he said that all six of them had been kidnapped. He said that if the kidnappers did not get the ransom, he would be killed. The next day he called his family again. This time, he was wailing over the phone and requesting his family to send the money. He said that the kidnappers were thrashing him and threatened to kill him soon. The call call got disconnected again and he couldn't be contacted since.

His family lodged a police complaint on June 24.