Shivamogga: Gang kidnaps four, releases later after getting ransom
Kidnapers escape after threatening police with revolver
Shivamogga, July 06: In a shocking development, four persons including two granite businessmen were abducted by a gang and released them later after getting ransom worth lakhs. This incident has created ripples among businessmen circle in the district.
The victims were identified as granite merchants Samiulla and Marble Anvar. Samiulla is the son-in-law of JDS leader Habeeb. It is said that notorious rowdy-sheeter Zameer Bachcha of Tippu Nagar and his gang abducted them. Two separate cases were filed in the Tunga Nagar police station regarding this incident. Based on the complaints, a police team led by inspector Mahantesh is investigating the issue.
About incident
The accused came to the granite shop belonging to Samiulla near Alkola circle on Thursday evening. At this time, total four persons including Marble Anvar and one customer were in the shop. But the accused threatened Samiulla with gun-point and later, they asked Samiulla, Anvar and two others to get into the car. After this, the accused took them to Gopala, Vinoba Nagar and other places in the car. They contacted businessman Habeeb from Samiulla’s mobile and demanded Rs 50 lakh ransom. They also threatened Habeeb of killing Samiulla if the money is not given.
Meanwhile, the police came to know about the kidnap and started operation to trace the accused. The police PCR vehicle traced the car used by the accused to kidnap the victims and tried to arrest them. At this moment, the accused threatened the police with revolver and fled the scene. Later, they got into another car along with the businessmen and went away. They snatched Rs 2 lakh from the victims and dumped them near the old jail on Jail Road at around 10 pm and escaped in the car.
But sources said that the accused got ransom worth lakhs from the victims before releasing them. It is also said that the accused have threatened of killing them if they informed this to the police.
Panic situation
A few days ago, a rowdy gang had tried to create fear among people especially businessmen by shooting at the gate of a realtor and JDS leader at RML Nagar. Close on the heels of that incident, this gang abducted the businessmen and demanded ransom which created panic among businessmen in the district and city in particular.
Using revolver
A few days back, two separate gangs of rowdys threatened two businessmen and threatened them of gun-point. Along with this, they were demanding ransom after abducting the businessmen. The rowdy gangs have been threatening the businessmen with revolvers without any fear and looting the money. This development has created panic among businessmen and people.
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Three company directors held in Rs 100-crore investment fraud in Kochi
Kochi (Kerala) (PTI): Police on Sunday arrested three directors of a firm accused of cheating hundreds of investors of over Rs 100 crore through a fake investment scheme linked to agricultural tourism here, officials said.
The accused were identified as Muraleedharan, Ashik Murali and Akhil Murali, all natives of Thrissur.
The arrests were made by the Kalamassery police in connection with a fraud involving ATCOS (Agri Tourism Cooperative Society), a firm headquartered at Pathadipalam here.
Police said the company had promised high returns by collecting investments from the public in the agricultural tourism sector, but allegedly cheated hundreds of people and fled with the money.
ATCOS was registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act and operated 13 branches across various districts in Kerala, besides a branch in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, officials said.
When investors failed to receive their promised returns or the invested amount, complaints were filed with the police.
Officials said around 54 cases have been registered against the firm in 32 police stations across the state, including 29 cases at the Kalamassery police station alone.
Following instructions from Kochi City Police Commissioner K S Mahesh Kumar, a special investigation team was formed under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shehensha and Thrikkakara ACP Manoj Kumar.
The team traced the accused to an apartment in Amala Nagar in Thrissur, where they had been hiding after secretly renting the flat, officials said.
The bank accounts of the accused have been frozen, and steps have been initiated to trace their assets, officials said.
Police also conducted a raid at the company’s office at Pathadipalam and seized several documents related to the case.
The accused were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kalamassery, which remanded them to judicial custody and sent them to Kakkanad jail.
Police said they would seek the custody of the accused for further interrogation as the investigation continues.
