Kochi, Aug 3 (IANS): A jilted lover and his two friends were nabbed by police after their failed attempt to kidnap the man's former girlfriend here in Kerala.

A police official in Nedumbassery told IANS that the kidnapping attempt took place in the early hours of Sunday.

The woman had arrived from the US at Kochi airport and was forcibly taken away by a group of seven people, after stopping the car she was travelling in with her relatives.

"The woman is a nurse and had arrived from the US. She previously worked in Kuwait and became close to a person who also worked in Kuwait," the police official said.

He said the main accused claimed they were in love for over four years and were about to get married.

"But six months back, the woman got a new job in the US. She came for leave and her marriage with another person was fixed for August 13. This made her former lover angry and he along with six friends made the kidnapping attempt," the police official said.

The woman hails from Malapally in Pathanamthitta district, while her former lover hails from near Kochi.

Four of the accused managed to escape.

The three arrested were produced before a court which sent them to 14 days judicial custody, the police official said.