CHENNAI: The police arrested two men, including a share auto driver, for allegedly kidnapping a minor temple priest, threatening him at knifepoint and robbing him of cash and valuables near Tambaram on Thursday.

The victim, a 16-year-old boy from Tiruchy, was living with his mother at Tambaram Sanatorium. Trained in priestly rituals and scriptures, he was working as a priest at a Shiva temple in Kundrathur. He used to commute by bus between his residence and the temple daily.

On Thursday night, after finishing his duties, the boy boarded a share auto to return home. After crossing Chromepet, the boy and another passenger were left in the vehicle. As the auto driver drove past Tambaram without stopping at Sanatorium, the boy raised an alarm. To his shock, the other passenger allegedly gagged him and threatened him with a knife.

The auto was later taken to a dark stretch beyond Tambaram, where the two men are said to have assaulted the boy and robbed him of Rs 13,000 in cash and a wristwatch worth Rs 3,000. They then pushed him out of the vehicle and fled.

Passers-by rushed him to the Tambaram police station, where a case was registered. After examining CCTV footage, the police traced the registration number and intercepted the vehicle near Chitlapakkam and detained two suspects.

The auto was later taken to a dark stretch beyond Tambaram, where the two men are said to have assaulted the boy and robbed him of Rs 13,000 in cash and a wristwatch worth Rs 3,000. They then pushed him out of the vehicle and fled.

Passers-by rushed him to the Tambaram police station, where a case was registered. After examining CCTV footage, the police traced the registration number and intercepted the vehicle near Chitlapakkam and detained two suspects.