Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP) 

Kasargod, Jul 26: Abdul Rahman Harris (17) from Marjipalla Koliyoor near Manjeshwar, who had been kidnapped three days back by the miscreants, has safely returned home. It is said that the boy's abductors were paid ransom of Rs 1.25 crore for securing his release. 

Harris called his mother Maimoona, at around 7.30 am on Thursday to inform that he has been released unharmed. He said he was at Pumpwell Junction Mangaluru. The family members immediately left for Mangaluru along with police personnel of Manjeshwar station and brought him home. The police subjected him to medical test at Kumble hospital. They got a statement from the teenager, presented him in the court, and entrusted him to his parents. 

As Harris, who was abducted on July 24, remained untraced for two days, the citizens from here had planned to lead a procession to Manjeshwar police station on Thursday morning. The police, who came under pressure, transferred the case to crime branch. As the investigation got intensified, it came to be known that the incident related to illegal gold trafficking and mediatory talks were held in the Gulf. The kidnappers, it is said, demanded payment of three crore rupees. At last, Latif, maternal uncle of Harris, called his family at 12 am on July 25 to inform that all issues have been sorted out that the boy would be released. 

Harris was going in a scooter to the college at Thokkottu with his sister on July 22 when a black car intercepted him about a kilometer away from home. Four persons forcibly took Harris in the car and fled. His sister informed her family about this. Although the police were intimated immediately, they could not find out the hideout of the kidnappers. 

In the meanwhile, a voice message received in the cell phone of the family warned that the boy's life would be in danger if three crore rupees is not paid. It also contained the vice of Harris stating that his life was in danger. 

Reportedly, people from the Gulf had sent four kilograms of gold through Latif, maternal uncle of Harris. He had not delivered the gold to the person to whom it was addressed. Latif had said that he could not hand over gold as the customs had seized the gold. As Latif was in Qatar, the police could not question him. The Manjeshwar police are not inclined to give more details about the case.