Two men rescued

In a joint operation, the city police, along with special units of Maharashtra police, on Sunday rescued a Chennai-based pawn broker and his friend who were abducted in Maharashtra a few days ago.

While the abductors were arrested and handed over to the Maharashtra police, the two rescued men were brought back to the city. However, policemen engaged in the rescue operation were injured while trying to prevent the abductors from escaping.

According to the police, Sohan Lal (43), a pawn broker from Kanathur along the East Coast Road, had gone to Maharashtra with his friend Sashi Kumar (41), a real estate agent, after he was lured by one Appusamy, a sculptor. Appusamy had pledged his jewels with Sohan Lal to tide over his financial problems and lured Sohan Lal to visit Maharashtra to meet his clients who wanted to buy 100 acres of land to build a temple. He also promised Sohan Lal a hefty commission if he helped in completing the land deal, the police said.

“Sohan Lal and Sashi Kumar left for Sholapur on May 12 to meet the land’s prospective buyers,” police said. The two then reached Nilanga in Latur district. “From there, Appusamy took them in a car, and, on the way, a few people got inside in the vehicle. After a while, Sohan Lal, Sashi Kumar and Appusamy were beaten up. The men then called Sohan Lal’s relative and told them that he was kidnapped and demanded Rs. 30 lakh as ransom,” police said. After receiving a complaint from Sohan Lal’s relative, a team from the Kanathur police, including crime inspector V. Balan, sub-inspector Senthil Kumar and some constables, left for Latur. The officers, who were accompanied by Sohan Lal’s relatives, sought the help of the Maharashtra government, while police teams from Latur, Beed and Sholapur joined them, police said. On Sunday evening, the abductors came in a car to a spot where they had agreed to meet Sohan Lal’s relatives. “The abductors tried to escape and broke through a fence,” Mr. Balan said. To prevent them from escaping, the Chennai police team, rammed their vehicle into the car in which the abductors tried to flee. “Some of our policemen were injured, but we nabbed the abductors and handed them over to the Maharashtra police,” Mr. Balan said. It was only during interrogations the police realised that Appusamy was part of the kidnapping.