COIMBATORE: The Gudalur police arrested three persons, including a woman, for kidnapping a 39-year-old man and rescued him in a swift action.
Police said G Mohammed Aniba (39) of Thottamoola in Gudalur, working in a jewel shop in Coimbatore, was bound for Gudalur bus stand in an auto driven by his friend Khateeb on Monday late evening, when the kidnappers intercepted them.
"Those in the car got down, assaulted Aniba, forcibly dragged him out and abducted him in their car. When the auto driver attempted to intervene, they pushed him aside and threatened to assault him with a wooden club," police said.
On receiving information from the auto driver, Aniba's father complained to the Gudalur police station. As the police came to know that the kidnappers' car was heading to Coimbatore through Coonoor, the local police were alerted, and vehicle checks intensified.
The police managed to intercept the car and nabbed the accused, identified by police as Jijil (35) of Deversolai, his wife Angel (25) and Pavis (32). Inquiries revealed that Aniba, who is married and has two daughters, had earlier worked as an auto driver in Gudalur.
After his wife left him for her maternal home due to differences arising from his affair with another woman, Aniba took up a job in a jewellery shop in Coimbatore. "We suspect the kidnapping to be linked to issues out of his affair, and further inquiries are under way," police said. The accused persons were produced in a court in Gudalur and remanded to judicial custody on Tuesday.