Incense maker kidnapped, killed in Vellore

According to the police, Chakravarthy (44) of SIPCOT was an entrepreneur who was manufacturing incense sticks. He was approached by one Ezhumalai of Banavaram, near Sholingur, to teach him the same trade. Chakravarthy obliged, after which Ezhumalai reportedly requested his help to procure a machine to manufacture incense sticks.

Chakravarthy got Ezhumalai a machine costing Rs.1.50 lakh, but as it malfuntioned frequently, Ezhumalai had to often approach Chakarvarthy to set it right. This led to doubts in Ezhumalai’s mind as to whether the latter had sold him a second hand unit.

A couple of days ago, when the machine developed a problem once again, Chakravarthy was asked to come and set it right. However, he did not return home that night. His wife Kavitha (40), received a call on her mobile phone, in which Chakaravarthy revealed that he was being held for ransom and the kidnappers wanted Rs.5 lakh. Kavitha informed the SIPCOT police.

She then called the kidnapper on her husband’s mobile number and informed him that she could raise only Rs.1 lakh. She was asked to bring the money to the Kaveripakkam bus stand and when she did so, neither the kidnapper, nor her husband were present. Subsequently, she was called on her mobile phone and informed that her husband had been killed and that the body was in the Ayil burial ground near Sholingur.

Police went to the spot and recovered the body with multiple injuries to it on Sunday night. They have formed special teams and investigations are on.