Kasargod: Beauty as the Bait - Gang Luring, Looting Men with 'Love' Caught
Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (NM)
Kasargod, Dec 22: Manjeshwar police have arrested a gang of five persons for luring well-to-do persons with the help of a girl and then extorting money through blackmail.
The arrested are S K Shailesh (28) of Shantigudde House, Kumble, Mohammed Shakeer (32) of Dinadka House, Mogral Puttur, K Isaac (32) of Bettampady, Sullia, K I Ummar (39) of Somavarpet, Madikeri and, K M Jafar Sherif (25) of Kakkube, Madikeri.
Among them, Jafar of Madikeri is an accused in a murder case, while the other four are wanted for various fights and brawls, said S Surendran; district superintendent of police during a press meet here on Saturday December 22.
The gang's activity came to light after the kidnap of Husainar, a resident of Madikeri based in the Gulf.
According to the police, the five accused with the help of a girl from Madikeri kidnapped Husainar, forcibly clicked his picture with the girl and then blackmailed him for Rs 25 lac.
The girl called Husainar frequently and developed a relationship with him. As per the gang's plan, she met Husainar on December 7, and the two went on a drive. She took him towards Manjeshwar, and when the car reached Uppala, the other four who were waiting to strike stopped the car and kidnapped Husainar. They took him to Isaac's house in Sullia and beat him up. They then forcibly clicked his picture with the girl and threatened to make the picture public if he did not pay them Rs 25 lac. He called up his family and narrated the incident and asked them to arrange the money. The family informed Madikeri police, after which the gang fled fearing police raid.
Based on the complaint lodged by Husainar's family, Madikeri police successfully arrested Ummar and Zafar who were later handed over to Manjeshwar police.
Circle inspector T P Ranjith of Manjeshwar police staton took up the case for further investigation.
Later, Shailesh, Mohammed Shakeer and Isaac were also arrested.
"The gang has been doing involed in such organized method of looting well-to-do individuals especially Uppala," the police said.
"With the help of the girl, the gang has been luring well-to-do men before looting them. Many such cases have been reported in the past," SP S Surendran said.