Drunk man kidnaps school student for ransom, boy escapes, reaches police station

V Sanjay (14) of Rajaji Nagar Extension in Villivakkam, a Class 10 student of a private school in Surapet, had gone for tuition in the neighbourhood on Monday evening. When he did not return home even after 7 pm, his father Vinothkumar, a railway employee, inquired at the tuition centre. But he was told that Sanjay left the centre around 6.30 pm. After searching the locality, Vinothkumar lodged a complaint at the Rajamangalam police station.

Meanwhile, passers-by noticed Sanjay seeking directions to the nearby police station at Surapet near Puzhal. When inquired, he told them that he was kidnapped. The public handed him over to the Ambattur police. On information, the Rajamangalam police conducted inquiries with him and found that he was kidnapped by a man on Monday evening and kept in a house. But he escaped from there on Tuesday morning.

The Police rushed to the spot and secured the suspect, identified as R Lokeshwaran (28) of Bharathidasan Nagar at Shanmugapuram in Ambattur. He is a car driver. Investigation revealed that Lokeshwaran picked up Sanjay in a friend’s car under the influence of alcohol and took him to Besant Nagar. After buying him food, he brought Sanjay back to his house around 2.30 am and allegedly told him that he was going to demand ransom from Sanjay’s father to release him. However, Sanjay managed to escape from him.

The police booked Lokeshwaran under kidnap charges and remanded him in judicial custody.

The city police have launched a hunt for a three-member gang who kidnapped a 50-year-old businessman from Red Hills and robbed him of Rs 6 lakh.

A week ago, when he was out of town, Suyambu (50), a realtor from MKB Nagar, received a phone call. The person at the other end wanted him to construct a building at Vadaperumbakkam near Red Hills.

Suyambu went to meet the caller and visit the site on his two-wheeler on Sunday. “Three men who showed him the plot allegedly took him in a car claiming to get the land documents from Koyambedu. However, when the car was near Koyambedu, they threatened Suyambu at knifepoint to part with Rs 50 lakh to release him,” said police.

Suyambu was made to call his friends to arrange the money. Later, the trio sent a person to collect Rs 6 lakh from Suyambu’s friend in Tondiarpet. After the money was received, the gang dropped Suyambu back at Vadaperumbakkam.

Based on his complaint, Red Hills police registered a case on Monday and are searching for the suspects.