Kolkata: An online transaction for paying ransom helped the Kolkata Police trace a trader two days after he was abducted.

Timir Kanti Mazumdar (50), a resident of South-24 Parganas was rescued from a flat on the 11th floor of a building on Raja SC Mullick Road. Five men accused of abducting the trader and demanding a ransom of Rs. five lakh have been arrested.

They were identified as Sajal Bose (43), Suman Bose (51), Sudip Mazumdar (39), Samir Kumar Deb (51), Sandipan alias Chima Das (39. All the five are residents of Bijoygarh area. The first accused Bose resided in the same building where the victim was found.

“The entire operation from the time we received the complaint to the rescue happened within four hours,” said a senior officer.

In her complaint to the Bhowanipore police station, the victim’s wife Tapasi had informed the cops, she had received a ransom demand of Rs. five lakhs.

When further questioned, the victim’s wife informed members of the special investigation team formed by the Bhowanipore police station that she had transferred Rs. 10, 000 to a phone number provided by the abductors.

Tracing the number of the UPI transaction, the SIT tracked the number to be operational near Jadavpur area and arrested one person.

Acting on the information provided by the man, the SIT members raided the flat and rescued Majumdar. The remaining accused were arrested from the flat where he was being held.

“We do not have the entire information on the abduction, like why they had targeted the victim, if there was enmity. The family had not received any ransom note or call. How the demand for ransom was made to the family is still not clear. The probe is still on,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar.