Gang kidnaps cab driver, arrested

The police arrested five persons for kidnapping a cab driver for a ransom of Rs 50,000. He was kidnapped along with his cab and tortured for three days in a forested area, before being released after receiving money from his brother.

Krishna Naik (24), Yashwanth Kumar (23), Ramesh (20), Shashikumar (22) and Arun Kumar (20), natives of Denkannikote in Tamil Nadu, were arrested by the Bommanahalli Police. The gang has eight cases of robbery and theft registered against them in Begur, Hulimavu, Konanakunte and Mico Layout police stations. The police have recovered Rs 3.65 lakh worth mobile phones, cars and an auto-rickshaw. To lead a lavish lifestyle, the gang would rob people travelling alone.

A senior police officer said that the gang stopped Haribabu, a resident of Hongasandra, on October 16 morning, on the pretext of hiring a cab and asked him for a ride to Madiwala. On the way, they took out lethal weapons and threatened him to drive to Kollegal. They assaulted him in the forest and made him call his brother, Ashok and asked to deposit Rs 50,000 in their bank account. After withdrawing this amount in Anekal and Kollegal they further demanded more money.

Since Ashok was unable to pay them, he filed a complaint before the Bommanahalli police. ACP (Mico Layout) MN Karibasavana Gowda formed a special team to nab the accused; traced them through call data records. However, when the police reached, they fled from the spot. They left Haribabu at NICE Road.

Based on the information, the police eventually tracked them down.