Though it appears to be their first case of kidnap, the modus operandi they have adopted has all the trappings of a professional at work Presenting the accused — C. Keshav Rao (32) and K. Chandrasekhar (23) — in the case of kidnap of 9-year-old Korubilli Damodhar on September 8 from Chintalagraharam village in the Pendurthi area, before the media on Tuesday, Commissioner of Police (in-charge) Atul Singh said they were on the lookout for a target.
After identifying the boy, the accused befriended him by offering chocolates. They first met the boy at a Ganesh pandal near his house.
Thereafter, for one week the accused made efforts to develop rapport with the boy. On September 8, they abducted him.
They moved to the Pendurthi hill along with the boy and converted a deserted hut into their hideout.
“Though the area is close to the victim’s house, it is a forest area and less frequented by people. After a day, when the boy realised their intentions, he tried to escape, but was threatened and even bound by the abductors. We recovered two knives from them in person,” said Mr. Atul Singh.
The kidnappers were arrested on Monday.
According to the police, Keshav Rao, a native of Srikakulam, settled down in the Pendurthi area a few years ago. Both he and Chadrasekhar were masons by profession.
Mr. Atul Singh said that Keshav Rao was earlier acquitted in a murder case in Srikakulam.
“We have to verify if a DC sheet was opened against him and whether it was transferred to the Pendurthi police station. This case has opened our eyes. From now on, we will start monitoring the DC and rowdy-sheeters closely,” said Mr. Atul Singh.
Giving details about the investigation, he said the kidnappers had made about eight ransom calls from coin phone booths, and the police first made a list of all the coin phone booths in the city and posted personnel at each one of them.
“It was an elaborate operation and about 70 per cent of the police force in the Commissionerate was engaged in the task,” said Mr. Atul Singh.
