Mangalore: Kinnigoli Businessman Escapes Kidnap Bid
Sunil Haleangady / Lionel Pinto
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Oct 12: A business man in Kinnigoli had a close shave with kidnappers at Battakodi here on Friday October 12.
Cyprian D’Souza, timber merchant and real estate businessman was returning home after dropping his children to school when the incident took place.
As per Cyprian's statement, four kidnappers in Maruti Omni stopped his Scorpio near his house. While one of them, who spoke in Tulu, opened the Scorpio's door and got into the passenger seat, two others opened the rear door and slipped in, with an intention to tie up Cyprian. The person in the front seat told Cyprian to hand over his mobile phone, to which the latter replied that he had left it in his house. One of the kidnappers took out a gun and aimed at Cyprian's head.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Cyprian at once opened his car door and jumped out of the vehicle. He ran some distance shouting for help.
Meanwhile, the car which was in neutral gear began to move backwards. The kidnappers too jumped out and when they saw locals coming to Cyprian's rescue, fled away in their Maruti car towards Mulky. In the process, Cyprian was injured in his leg, but escaped from the kidnappers.
On interrogation, Cyprian told the police that the kidnappers were unknown to him and that they were around 28-30 years of age.
Speaking to Daijiworld Cyprian said that he has received threat calls on the internet demanding ransom. He also said that he failed to note down the number of the kidnappers' car.
Cyprian had received a threat call a year ago from an unknown person who claimed himself an associate of underworld don Ravi Poojary.
Cyprian owns a mill in Battakodi and few furniture shops at Kateel, Kinnigoli, Padubidri Guttakaadu, Damaskatte. He is also into real estate business and owns land in various places.
Basheer Ahmed, Mulky circle inspector took charge of the investigation and efforts are on to trace the culprits.
A case has been registered in the Mulky police station.