Top Calcutta industrialist kidnapped

Mr Roy Barman was seized in a Calcutta street

By Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta

One of Calcutta's leading industrialists, Parthapratim Roy Barman, has been kidnapped in the heart of the city.

Mr Roy Barman owns a leading leather company in eastern India, Khadim, and is one of the wealthiest men in the city.

Mr Roy Barman was driving down the Eastern Metropolitan bypass that connects the city with its airport at Dumdum.

Police says he was heading for the southern part of the city when two gunmen blocked his way near the Ruby General Hospital and fired at his car.

Mr Roy Barman, who was driving himself screeched to a halt, and was seized by the gunmen.

High-profile kidnapping

This is the second high-profile kidnapping in the city in this decade.

Two years ago, the chairman of India's leading battery maker Exide, Satyabrata Ganguly, was kidnapped and then released on payment of an undisclosed amount of ransom.

Police say they are trying to track down the kidnappers, but have no idea who they could be.

Family sources say the kidnappers are yet to make a ransom demand.

Intelligence officials suspect the kidnappers could belong to a major operating out of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh states.