Surajpur kidnapping case: Ex-driver planned abduction for ransom

In the Surajpur kidnapping case, police say a former driver orchestrated the abduction of a 62-year-old woman, demanding ₹22 lakh ransom before arrest

A 62-year-old woman who was abducted from her home in Surajpur has been rescued safely, with police revealing that the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping was the victim’s former driver. The accused, along with two associates, is said to have plotted the crime to extort ₹22 lakh, reportedly motivated by knowledge of the family’s retirement savings.

The incident, which unfolded late last month, has drawn attention due to the level of planning involved and the familiarity the accused had with the victim’s household.

Incident unfolds at home

According to police, the abduction took place on April 29 in Sarnapara village under the Surajpur Kotwali police station limits. The victim, identified as Lalita Kujur, was alone at home when the incident occurred.

Her husband, who had travelled to Ambikapur for vehicle repairs with a driver, returned in the afternoon to find the house ransacked. There were signs of a struggle, and blood stains were visible at a few spots, officials said.

Shortly after, a call was received from the woman’s phone. An unidentified caller demanded ₹22 lakh for her safe release. The phone was switched off soon after.

Police launch search

Senior officers treated the case as urgent. According to officials, three teams were formed to track down the abductors and locate the victim. Search operations were carried out across nearby areas, and initial leads were examined.

During the course of investigation, suspicion fell on a former driver who had earlier worked for the family. Police detained the suspect, identified as Roshan Devangan, for questioning.

“During interrogation, he admitted involvement in the crime,” a police officer said, adding that further details emerged soon after.

Familiarity led to crime

Investigators said the accused had worked with the family for nearly 18 months and was aware that the victim’s husband had retired from South Eastern Coalfields Limited and received a substantial settlement.

“According to officials, the accused planned the kidnapping after learning about the retirement funds,” a senior officer said.

He allegedly roped in two accomplices, including one identified as Sheikh Ishu. The group then visited the victim’s house under the pretext of asking for water. Once inside, they overpowered her, tied her hands and legs, and covered her face with tape.

Ransom demand and escape

The woman was then transported on a motorcycle to a location in Dumaria. From there, the accused used her phone to contact her husband and issue the ransom demand.

Police said the abductors later switched off the phone and moved locations to avoid detection.

However, with police teams intensifying patrols and search operations, the accused reportedly panicked.

Victim abandoned midway

Fearing arrest, the abductors abandoned the woman along a bypass road between Dumaria and Chandarpur. Before fleeing, they removed the tape and restraints and allegedly attempted to destroy evidence by burning them.

Despite being injured, the woman managed to reach a nearby house and informed locals, who then alerted her family and the police.

She was immediately taken to the district hospital in Surajpur for treatment. Officials said her condition is stable.

Arrests and seizure

Following the breakthrough, police arrested Roshan Devangan and later apprehended Sheikh Ishu while he was allegedly attempting to flee towards Bilaspur. A third accused remains absconding, and search efforts are ongoing.

Authorities also seized a motorcycle, a scooter, and two mobile phones believed to have been used in the crime.

Ongoing investigation

Police officials said the investigation is continuing to trace the absconding suspect and gather further evidence.

“The Surajpur kidnapping case highlights how prior knowledge of a family’s financial situation was misused,” an officer noted, adding that more details could emerge as the probe progresses.

Ex-Minister Jaysingh Agarwal Warns of Agitation Over SECL's Manikpur Mine Expansion

Chhattisgarh leader threatens mass protest unless SECL addresses compensation and employment demands of displaced villagers in Korba

Former minister Jaysingh Agarwal has taken a direct stand against the management of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), issuing a firm warning of a large-scale public agitation if hundreds of families displaced by the Manikpur mine expansion in Korba district are not given fair compensation and employment without further delay.

Agarwal has written to SECL's Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), demanding urgent intervention in a crisis that, he says, has been festering for years due to administrative indifference.

Hundreds of Families in Distress

According to the letter, residents of Bhilai Khurd villages — including settlements numbered 1, 2, and 3 — along with those from surrounding areas are facing a mounting livelihood crisis triggered by successive rounds of land acquisition linked to the mine's expansion.

The former minister pointed out that when approximately 80 acres of agricultural and residential land was acquired in an earlier phase, SECL had given assurances of local employment. Those promises, he stated, were never fulfilled. Now, with a fresh acquisition drive for nearly 60 additional acres reportedly under way, anxiety among the affected families has reached a tipping point.

Compensation Process Under Fire

Agarwal levelled serious allegations of irregularity in how compensation has been assessed and disbursed. He alleged that newly constructed houses in the affected villages are being excluded from the valuation process because the drone surveys used to map structures are outdated and fail to account for recent construction.

As per his letter, this effectively denies a section of residents any compensation for homes they have built legitimately, and the practice amounts to systematic discrimination. He described the management's handling of the situation as a reflection of institutional insensitivity toward vulnerable communities.

Three Demands Put Before SECL

The former legislator placed three non-negotiable demands before the SECL management. First, he has demanded that all affected families receive just and transparent compensation calculated at current market rates for both land and structures, to be released without further delay.

Second, he has called for a fresh drone survey of newly built homes so that these properties are included in the compensation framework. Third, he has demanded that youth from the displaced villages be given priority in permanent employment with the company — a commitment he says SECL has repeatedly made but never honoured.

General Manager Asked to Intervene

Beyond the CMD, Agarwal has specifically requested that the General Manager of SECL's Korba area be directed to personally engage with the grievances of affected residents. He made clear that if swift and concrete action is not taken, the management would bear full responsibility for whatever public unrest follows.

Warning of Mass Agitation

Sources close to Agarwal indicated that he has already begun consultations with local community leaders and that ground-level discontent is building rapidly. The former minister told officials that if the matter is not addressed within a reasonable time, a wide-ranging public agitation would be mobilised across the affected villages.

This is not the first time the Manikpur expansion has drawn political and community opposition. The Manikpur Opencast coal mine, operated by SECL at a capacity of 5.25 million tonnes per annum, spans over 1,000 hectares in Tehsil and District Korba and has a long history of phased expansion that has repeatedly affected nearby habitations.

Broader Context

The Korba coalfield remains one of the most production-intensive zones in India's coal belt. The sub-areas of the Korba Coalfield include Manikpur among several key mining zones, with Korba accounting for a substantial share of SECL's overall output. As production targets rise, the human cost borne by communities along the mine's periphery has increasingly become a flashpoint for political mobilisation.

Agarwal's intervention is being seen in local political circles as a signal that the displaced residents' patience has run out, and that the issue could escalate significantly if SECL does not respond before the next round of acquisition proceedings moves forward.

SECL management had not issued a formal response to the letter at the time of publishing this report.