Five arrested for kidnapping youths

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city police on Wednesday arrested a five-member gang who had allegedly kidnapped a 23-year-old youth and his 19-year-old cousin.
The arrests of Muhammed Bilal, 23, Muhammed Aslam, 20, and Muhammed Yaseen, 19, of Bangladesh Colony near Valiyathura and Abdul Rahman, 24, and Rahees, 21, of Kumarichantha near Poonthura were recorded at Vattiyoorkavu police station. They had allegedly kidnapped Imran Khan and Mohanas of Valiyathura.
Police said the alleged crime took place near Kachani on Sunday when Khan and Mohanas arrived there to attend a wedding. The kidnap was a result of a financial dispute between Bilal and Khan.
Vattiyoorkavu sub-inspector B Muraleekrishna said Khan's friend had rented a car belonging to Bilal's close relative. But they did not return the car on time but also mortgaged the car to secure Rs 1 lakh. The owner of the car received a notice from the moneylender demanding to pay Rs 1.40 lakh. Since then, the accused had been waiting to meet Khan.
On Sunday, the accused learned that Khan was at Vattiyoorkavu and came to meet him. They captured him along with Mohanas to take them to the moneylender in a bid to clear the confusion. Khan's father Nujumudeen alerted police.
But on their way to Sreekaryam they were intercepted by police. Khan got out of the car but the gang fled with the vehicle. They took refuge in Tamil Nadu and police arrested them from Thampanoor railway station when they returned to the city.