by Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: Addiction of online betting led a seventeen-year-old child here (name withheld) script his own kidnapping story. A resident of Gol Sadak in Ghogha village located in outskirts of city the child went missing yesterday in early hours.
Subsequently through phone call he intimated his father (name withheld) that he has been kidnapped by unknown people. The child informed he was kidnapped from a place adjoining line hotel in Ghogha Bazar. He further said people who kidnapped him were travelling on three motorcycles.
Intimating his father that he has been kept blindfolded by his kidnappers he said his kidnappers are demanding Rs 50000 from him for his release. The boy asked his father to transfer the amount online to his account so that he can give the amount to his kidnappers for his release.
The worried father registered FIR at Ghogha PS about kidnapping of his son following receipt of phone call from him. Taking immediate action police started enquiring how the child was kidnapped and also tried to ascertain identity of people stated to be involved in kidnapping.
The family members unable to throw much light on kidnapping incident however told police that on basis of phone call they could know about kidnapping of the child. Suspicious about genuineness of the kidnapping incident, the account of child was scanned by police.
The scanning of account revealed some regular online transactions for betting. Doubtful about the whole incident police suggested parents of the child to transfer some amount to his account purportedly for paying release amount to kidnappers.
Following transfer of money, police was able to detect the money sent to the child was transferred by him to a cricket betting app. The child was subsequently located by police on basis of his mobile location. The child who is matriculate has admitted before police that his indulgence in online cricket betting led him to float fabricated kidnapping story.
