Pramesh S Jain & Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
The Bommanahalli police arrested a gang of six led by a drug peddler for abducting a NRI from Australia for ransom on the pretext of selling drugs.
The accused have been identified as,Monish alias Manu,Lokesh,Kishor Shiva,Athi Rooth,Dilip Kumar,and Satish Chandru.
Monish is a tattoo artiste turned peddler while others worked as push cart vendors and readymade cloth seller on footpath a senior officer told reporters.
The victim,who had come from Australia to meet his brother was addicted to drugs and used to purchase from Monish often through online.
Suspecting that the victim having money,Monish roped in his associates and abducted the victim on February 20,on the pretext of delivering drugs .
The accused called the victim to deliver the drugs near a private school in Bommanahalli and later forcibly taken him in his car to a secluded area.
The accused subjected the victim to physical assault and coerced transfer Rs.98,000.The accused later forced the victim to call his brother demanding more money.
Suspecting something his brother along with his friends went to the spot and rescued his brother while the accused fled the spot .
The victim was initially refused to file a complaint fearing legal action against him too for consuming drugs but after he was admitted to the hospital and report was filed,the police swung into action and track down the accused on Sunday.
Based on the accused information,the police also arrested Sathyanarayan Mahato,a drug peddler who used to supply Marijuna to Monish .
The accused Mahato hailed from Bihar and used to source the drugs from his contacts in the neighbouring state.
The police seized 400 gram of ganja worth Rs.24,000 from Mahato and booked a case against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
