Illegal Coal Trade: Two Arrested in Abduction Case Linked to Criminal Activities

Arrests Made in Coal Mafia Abduction Case

Basudevpur: On Sunday, Sabarang police apprehended two individuals connected to the illegal coal trade for allegedly kidnapping a man they believed was a police informant.

Reports indicate that Pratap Kumar Behera, a resident of Marapur village within the Sabarang police jurisdiction in Bhadrak district, was taken on June 5 by a group purportedly associated with the coal mafia.

Following a complaint lodged by Pratap's wife, Kanakalata, authorities registered a case (125/25) at the Sabarang police station. Police conducted searches at multiple sites on Sunday, leading to the arrest of two suspects: Bijay Barik from Toranpada village in Goramati panchayat and Sanjeeb Das from the Mallapada area under Bhadrak Rural police jurisdiction. Both individuals have been presented in court.

Sabarang IIC Umashankar Nayak commented on the situation, revealing that Pratap Behera has a criminal background, with eight cases registered at Bhadrak Rural police station and six at Sabarang police station.

Several of these cases are currently pending trial in the SDJM Court in Bhadrak. Nayak emphasized that Pratap is not a police informant but rather a repeat offender, suggesting that his alleged role in illegal coal transportation may have triggered his kidnapping by a rival faction.