Police arrest hawala gang member in kidnap case

Kochi: Police arrested a man who was part of the hawala racket that kidnapped a youth from Kalamassery. Police identified the arrested person as Haris, a 39-year-old resident of Perambra. He was apprehended by Kalamassery police team with the assistance of the Kozhikode district rural police.

The victim, identified as Saurav, who hails from Meppayur in Kozhikode, was abducted on April 30 from Thameem Apartment near Cochin University. He was held hostage at various locations for two days. The accused demanded Rs 5,00,000 as ransom from his family.

Kalamassery police rescued him on May 2 from Balussery in Kozhikode, with the assistance of Kozhikode district rural police.

Police also arrested another accused in the case, Hashir, 21, from Perambra, who was involved with the hawala mafia and came to collect the ransom. The police also seized Rs 3.6 lakh from him. He is currently in remand.

Detailed investigations by Kalamassery police revealed that an online scam gang and the hawala mafia were behind the abduction. A team led by Kalamassery inspector Latheef MB is investigating the case and the probe will be extended to other states. The accused was presented in court on Friday and was remanded to judicial custody.

Two held for theft: Police arrested two men on Friday morning for robbing two rings, including a wedding ring, from a man who was sitting by the roadside near Mantra Bridge. Police identified the arrested persons as Saleem Beeran, 55, alias Bandichor, of Mattancherry, and Kunjumon, 57, of Thoppumpady.

The robbery occurred on the night of April 20. When the victim tried to stop the robbery, the accused attacked him and escaped on a scooter. The accused were arrested by a police team led by Fort Kochi police inspector MS Faisal. They were arrested from their homes following an investigation based on CCTV footage and mobile phone locations, police said.