An attempt to murder a 38-year-old history-sheeter was thwarted by a city police patrol team in West Mambalam on Saturday night.
Police arrested a three-member-gang — Lawrence (29), Pradeep (21) and Edison (25), all from Teynampet, and rescued the victim, Shantha Kumar.
The victim’s wife had allegedly plotted his abduction and murder.
According to police, a team comprising sub-inspector Jayanthi, head constable Senthil Kumar and police constable Selva Kumar were conducting vehicle checks on Thambiah Road in West Mambalam, when they spotted a speeding autorickshaw.
The vehicle evaded the patrol team and tried to get away. The police chased it in a car and stopped it.
Four people were found in the vehicle. While two passengers, Edison and Surendran escaped, Lawrence and Pradeep were detained on the spot.
Edison was later arrested based on the information given by his aides. When the men were interrogated, police found out that Shantha Kumar had quarrelled with his wife Sudha, and sent her to stay with her mother.
An angry Sudha wanted to get back at Shantha Kumar. She decided to have him killed and asked Balaji, a history-sheeter from Teynampet to murder him.
Balaji, along with Lawrence, Pradeep, Edison and Surendran kidnapped Shantha Kumar from his home in Nallan Kuppam in Kumaran Nagar.
“They were planning to take him to Nanganallur and murder him. We have seized sharp weapons from the vehicle. We are now on the lookout for Balaji, Surendran and Sudha,” said a police officer.
