Bargarh: In a dramatic rescue act, Town police here rescued a youth held hostage by a fake employment agency on the pretext of providing him a job during a raid at its office in this town, police said Wednesday.
The rescued youth was identified as Ratikanta Jena, son of Sadananda Jena, a native of Bilana village under Tihidi police limits in Bhadrak district.
Police even picked up two employees of the fake agency and detained them for questioning in this connection.
The fake agency identified as Balaji Company was running from a rented house situated between the private bus-stand and the Gurudwar Square in the town. The incident has sent shockwaves in the area.
Reports said several such agencies have mushroomed in the town and were luring gullible youths promising them jobs. They charge anything between Rs 6000 to 12,000 from the aspirants but defraud them once they get the money.
Ratikanta, who knew one of the staff, requested him to get a job for him. The concerned staff visited Ratikanta’s house August 19 and took him to Bargarh after assuring him of a job.
The two reached Bargarh August 20 and the staff took Ratikanta to his office where he and other members of the agency held him in custody after locking him up in a room
They refused to let him go and snatched away Rs 6000 which he had brought with him. He pleaded with them to free him but they refused.
Ratikanta was left clueless when he suddenly found his phone in his pocket which the miscreants had not taken while locking him up in the room. He immediately sent an SMS to one of his friends who in turn informed his family members.
The family members after learning about his ordeal contacted the Tihidi police station who in turn directed the former to approach the Town police station in Bargarh.